Role Of Empathy

In Health Care
Professionalism

Mariam Nadeem
Javeria Irfan
Wajiha Riaz
Zara Kazmi
 Scenario
• A trauma patient was brought to the Emergency with severe crush
injuries to the right leg. Neurovascular bundle has been
compromised therefore a below the knee amputation had been
done. The patient is now stable and has been shifted to the ward.
The medical officer on duty has to counsel the patient for what has
been done and for the care to be taken once discharged.

As a doctor, what will your approach be towards the patient while

counselling and interacting with the patient that depicts empathy?
 Learning Objectives
• Define Empathy
• Empathy Vs Sympathy
• Importance of Empathy in Medical Profession
• Hazards of Lack of Empathy
• Promoting empathy in Doctors
 Remember…

• Professionalism is the basis of

medicine’s social contract with the
society
 What is Empathy?
• the ability to understand and
share the feelings of another
person

• capacity to understand or feel what

another person is experiencing from
with in their frame of reference

• to place oneself in another persons

position
 Components of Empathy

Emotional/
Cognitive Compassion
Affection
• Perspective Taking
• to know or • its beyond only thinking about a • Empathic Action
recognize what the particular feeling
other person might • Experience their feelings/
be thinking or actually feeling it
feeling • putting yourself in a similar
emotional space as the other
person
• You’re together with them in that
situation.
 Empathy Vs Sympathy

Sympathy
Empathy
• Acknowledging that another
person is going through an
emotional or physical struggle, • Actually understanding
supporting them and giving them
comfort
what the other person is
feeling
• Understanding someone’s emotions
but from your own perspective
 Importance of Empathy
• Helps the health care workers work more efficiently
in fulfillment of their role

• Has impact on effectiveness of the treatment

• Helps in gaining trust of the patients

 Promoting Empathy in Doctors
• Cultivate curiosity
• Step out of your comfort zone
• Receive feedback
• Examine your biases
• Walk in the shoes of others
• Difficult, respectful conversations
• Join a shared cause
• Read widely
Hazards of Lack of Empathy
 Right Approach?
• Seek the understanding of the patient
• Tell the information in bits and pieces
• Show empathy
• Console them
• Counsel them about treatment options in the
future
Thankyou!
Thankyou!