Dr. Scott Stonington

Biography

Scott Stonington is a medical cultural anthropologist and internal medicine physician. His research broadly addresses globalization and biomedical ethics. His book, Spirit Ambulance, focuses on decision-making at the end of life in Thailand, exploring the complex combination of ethical frameworks generated by high-tech medical care, human rights politics, and the metaphysical demands of dying. Dr. Stonington spent years accompanying Thai elders at their deathbeds, documenting children’s attempts to repay the debt of life that comes with intensive medical care through the concept of 'spirit ambulance,' a rush to get patients off life support and home to orchestrate their final breaths in a spiritually advantageous place. His research interests also include global debates surrounding the use of opiates for pain management, illustrated by his experiences accompanying patients suffering severe pain in Northern Thailand. This work navigates the ethical complexities surrounding pain management in Thailand’s brutal drug war alongside deeper cultural values regarding pain as part of a spiritual journey. Additionally, Dr. Stonington studies medical epistemology in the U.S., focusing on how health practitioners determine what constitutes useful knowledge and its effects on patient care. He continues his work as an internist, practicing in primary care, and enjoys being a classical pianist and mountain enthusiast.

Research Interests