»Jetzt wächst zusammen, was zusammengehört!«

Abstract

More and more medicine is seen under economic aspects; this is even hailed as advanced thinking and garnished with promises of great new therapies. The orientation on achievement in all central areas of human life can be traced back to the rise of modern thinking – “the birth of the superlative from the spirit of modernity”. However, medicine can resist having its core concepts realigned to an economic perspective and keep its high standards if it rediscovers and expands its humanitarian potential. A new focus on the patient and a strengthening of patient autonomy can help to stop the medical system from becoming more and more mechanised and anonymous.