Full integration of teaching 'Medical Humanities' in the medical curriculum: the challenge of the Florence medical school.

The aim of this paper is to point out how education in Medical Humanities can enhance physicians’ education and facilitate a different approach towards the relationship with the patient. Medicine began by espousing a paternalistic attitude towards medical treatments, which were continued in spite of the patient’s disapproval or ignorance. In recent times the concept of informed consent, based on information given to the patient regarding the means of treatment, its benefits and risks, has come to the fore. Very often, however, the patient may not clearly understand the situation, due to the inaccessibility of medical language to the great majority of the population.