by Harry Burlington

Created on: August 18, 2009   Last Updated: August 20, 2009

Empathy is a natural human emotion towards others in situations of need, caused by thousands of factors, that demonstrates compassion. This is my definition and it may not be what is correct, but when I visit my doctor, I don't expect empathy; I nearly require it for the purpose of being given the best care possible. If doctors do not demonstrate the ability to empathize with their patients, how do we expect them to really care about keeping us healthy?

We rarely see the doctor, when we feel well, unless it's a routine physical or check-up and maybe required for sports, job, or other activity. As a patient, in need of care, that the doctor has the ability to provide, and will provide comfort (in time) they must require to be empathic. We are not all born with the same level of empathy, but we all can certainly make a decision to be in a profession that best fits our characteristics, and if a wanna-be medical student finds themselves not able to show empathy, then they need to find another career.

The medical industry gets paid way too much money and (in most cases) do not provide the best level of care, for us the patients not to receive a free bit of healing empathy from our medical providers. I just recently left the hospital, after a serious fall, and I spent three days in a bed only seeing my doctor one time, while the rest of the time nurse's shuffled hurriedly in the hallways. I needed assistance several times, but never got attention, until I started to get irritated and demonstrated that my immediate needs are greater than their shift change briefings. I expressed my concern with the doctor and he appeared to not care too much about my pain, lack of nutrition, and water. He wasn't demonstrating empathy towards me and it made my condition worse because I now felt nobody cared.

Empathy is a very powerful tool to use, if a doctor has the capability to use it, and never allow their patients to mentally become sick because of the levels of compassion not being exhibited. Taking care of others has become a commercial business, which lacks a lot of human-connecting emotions, from insurance companies to your local clinic's blood bank. It's an enterprise that takes and takes, but rarely gives back unless the patients run the show with their care.

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