Empathy: The Most Critical Skill in Medicine

MedPod Today | from MedPage Today

There are few things more core to the pillars of medicine than the concept of "empathy." Now empathy is something we hear about from day one in medical school, nursing school, or PA school. Hey, it's even something we hear in pre-med! It's probably something we even wrote about in our admissions essays. And that's because empathy is a critical part of care. You cannot care for a patient if you cannot relate, commiserate, and feel with them. In this episode, three storytellers have their own stories of empathy, all with a different spin on how it came out to them. Chapter 1. 'Can You Explain Why You're Sending Me to the ICU?' (2:57): Doctor-turned-patient reflects on empathy in medicine after the harrowing birth of her child. Story by Lauren Rissman, MD. Chapter 2. It Isn't the Dead Child Who Haunts Me (21:31): A doctor is reminded of an intern's reaction often. Story by Maryanne Chrisant, MD. Chapter 3. Treating Cancer Patients 'Like Cattle About to Be Slaughtered' (42:33): What "heartless" oncology in Russia taught this doctor. Story by Vadim Gushchin, MD. Episode produced by Amanda D'Ambrosio Hosted by Amy Ho, MD Sound engineering by Greg Laub Theme music by Palomar