Socio-Humanistic and Political Context of Personalized Medicine

Abstract

The topic of personalized medicine is discussed in the socio-political context. Particularly, the following questions are critically elaborated: how will confrontation with different types of society and culture be evidenced in the future?; what kind of relationship will be established between personalized medicine and education?; how will the complex ethical and legal issues of the modern society be addressed?; how will the relationship between physician and patient be develop when the patient will be approached as an integral human being?; what role will be played and what responsibilities will be taken by the politics as substantial political changes occurred in the twenty-first century? Expected socio-political aspect and consequences because of the introduction of personalized medicine in everyday clinical practice, will probably be positive especially in the area of creating improved, high-quality legal and ethical regulation measures. In addition, introduction of new methods and contents in medicine along with adequate and intensified patient education are expected to allow patients to actively and responsibly participate in the implementation of newly adopted social standards and regulations in this area. In the process of achieving expected goals within the field of personalized medicine, two aspects may be particularly highlighted. One aspect is focused on how to live better and longer, while the second is focused on how to maximize personal patients’ data protection because data, including personal data, is highly relevant for this important humanistic project of extraordinary interest to humanity.