Healing Arts

Since its inception, the photographic medium has been used to document the ill and those who treat them. Portrayals of illness have cast the patient in the role of victim or heroic survivor. Physicians are dispassionate scientists, noble saviors, or technocratic villains. But like all stereotypes, such representations ignore the mundane fact that both physician and patient are complex individuals, bringing to their relationship the same intricate combination of backgrounds, expectations and personalities one finds in any intimate human interaction. <em>(continued>)</em> <br/> <br/> <br/> Oncologist and patient I. I became interested in examining a medical relationship that virtually all of us experience: that between the doctor or health care provider, and the patient. Rather than the differences in status, class, power and health that one usually sees in such pictures, I wanted to emphasize the collaboration between physician and patient in the healing process; rarely a one-way interaction. The conceit is that, ideally, one doesn't know who is who. <br/> <br/> <br/> Oncologist and patient II. Reconstructive surgeon and patient. Retina specialist and patient. AIDS patient and health care team. Internist and patient. Internist and patient. Radiologist and patient. Physician as patient.