Paul Tournier

Paul Tournier ( born May 12, 1898 in Geneva; † 7 October 1986 Troinex ) was a Swiss physician and writer. He was a pioneer and visionary of an integrative approach to medicine, psychotherapy and counseling and coined the term " médecine de la personne ", the therapeutic doctor -patient relationship as a healing element in the treatment.

Life

Paul Tournier was born as the son of clergyman and poet Jacques -Louis Tournier (1828-1898) and his wife Alisabeth, born Ormond. His 70 year old father died shortly after his birth.

After studying medicine at the University of Geneva, he did an internship in Paris. In 1920 he was a delegate of the International Committee of the Red Cross. After his federal diploma in medicine in 1923, he specialized in internal medicine. On October 4, 1924, he married Nelly Bouvier. From this marriage two children were born. In 1928 he opened his medical practice in Geneva. In the years 1939-1945 he was due to military service in the Swiss army does not continue his private practice.

In 1940 he published his first book entitled disease and life problems. He was the initiator of the International Conference of Medicine of the person in Bossy, that take place there since 1947 after his death yet.

Tournier wrote numerous books on Christian and psychological issues.