Empathy is the new black

In medical practice today, increasing attention is being given to the art of communication, to expressing (and better still, feeling) empathy, and viewing a person as more than their physical or psychological presenting complaint; that is, moving from a dehumanising approach – as exemplified by describing a patient as ‘the appendicectomy in bed 4’ – to an understanding and acknowledgement of the person and his or her experience, values, feelings and personal situation. There has been a trend away from the paternalistic approach of the doctor, to a more collaborative, ‘patient-centred’ approach to consultation. A more egalitarian approach encourages the physician to see patients as having agency and a legitimate role in decisions about their treatment, to follow their lead, and to appreciate experiences and problems from the patient’s point of view – including understanding their expectations and life circumstances more broadly.