[Thoughts about the humanism of the dermatologist].

prestigious professional, to have a prodigious memory, to have vast knowledge of a subject, or to be admired for brilliant speeches; the dermatologist needs to have a willingness and enthusiasm for hard work, and, of course, must also feel a professional calling. It is not enough for dermatologists to be learned or to have a vast knowledge of their field. They also need to be inspired by a strong work ethic, and, of course, by a large dose of humanity—towards themselves and towards the patient—backed by a strong spirituality. Gregorio Marañón said of Santiago Ramon y Cajal that such was his faith in the progress of science and in his research that he sacrificed much, including many aspects of his family life, his artistic ambition, and even political ideals. Cajal himself affirmed that independence, love of science and perseverance in one’s work were the factors that should guide a physician’s activity. Medicine, as the most human of the sciences, cannot distance itself from the humanistic and philosophical focus that guides and focuses it in daily practice. The dehumanization of medicine is not a new phenomenon, but has its origins in the history of humankind—in the belief that medicine had a divine or profane origin and that only magicians or sorcerers could be healers. When disease occurred, it was considered to be God’s way of punishing people for their sins. Nowadays, however, fragmentation of the study of medicine into knowledge areas is again leading to a dehumanization of both physicians and patients. Many are the dangers that today threaten to destroy the very soul of dermatology. The increasing use and even abuse (sometimes extreme) of science and technology and the desire to experiment, to be the first to publish results, to discover a new syndrome that differs slightly from an existing ailment, to locate a variant of a known disorder— all these have a negative impact on good practice. Dermatology is being undermined by a preference for quantity over quality in dermatology publications. Other issues are distancing us from a properly humanist focus; in fact, humanist disorientation—already fostered in medical school—threatens the future of our specialty. Dermatologists nowadays—weighed down as they are with work, overwhelmed as they are by the explosive growth in new and fashionable technical knowledge, and A certain ambiguity arises in explaining the term “humanism” that often dilutes its noble meaning. As with all the “-isms,” the underlying concept is debatable and this generates certain confusion. Humanism is not equivalent to—although it certainly accompanies—humanitarianism, nor can it be defined by altruism, philanthropy, compassion, mercy, prudence, or reflection. Likewise, it is not merely culture, nor, naturally, is it pure and simple atheism—a constituent of Marxism, which, of necessity, is atheistic. Humanism originates from the nature of human beings, and is based above all on the potential for exercising free will, which makes humans masters of their own destiny and responsible for their acts. The humanists explore their own nature and religious being. The religion, in our case, is Christianity, which accepts, defends and fosters the values of human dignity while acknowledging those of God. Christianity, therefore, can be considered, in its essence, to be a form of humanism, although there are those who do not consider humanism and Christianity to be equivalent, but to merely resemble each other in aspiring to the perfection of humans. Humanism takes full account of the dignity and transcendence of human beings and their capacity for reflection. It does not refer to luxury or intellectual refinement. Rather, it implies culture, comprehension, a regard for what is good and just; it expresses, in short, the desire to excel. Although physicians—and in our particular case, dermatologists—may possess knowledge of their specialty, they are wanting as professionals if they fail to cultivate the thinker within them and neglect to reflect at length on their work. Without learning, they will be unable to properly perform their duties. They also need, however, to show a human side to the patient seeking their help. The humanism of dermatologists should not merely be evident in their treatment of patients, but should also be part of their moral training. It is not necessary to be a OPINION ARTICLE