This booklet is a re-examination of the concept of medical vocation in the light of the radical changes which are taking place in the organisation and practice of healthcare.

The authors, one of whom is medical and the other a theologian, paint a portrait of 'Generation X' - the generation born since 1960 - and emphasise their desire to find fulfilment not just through their work but also in family life, cultural pursuits, friendships, and an inner spiritual life.

They state that the notion of doctor as a 'self-sacrificing parent' cannot be sustained in the modern world. As they put it 'The era of the 24-hour-a-day, 365-days-per-year doctor has gone'. The ethic of unstinting self-sacrifice still persists in the medical profession, but often with unfortunate results - witness the appallingly long hours which were, until recently, tolerated among junior doctors.

As I read through the first four chapters, I thought the authors might be about to conclude that the whole concept of vocation was out of date. Not so. In chapters five and six they spell out the concept of vocation in a new and satisfying way - a way they describe as 3-dimensional, and which includes relaxing and sharing in family life. To find out more about the philosophical and Scriptural basis of this concept, read the booklet and especially the last two chapters for yourself.

Reviewed by
David Short
(Emeritus Professor of Clinical Medicine, Aberdeen University)