Empathy in healthcare is finally making a comeback

Dr Jeremy Howick (PhD)
Empathy

A doctor friend — let’s call her Anne — was teaching three smart medical students who were told to diagnose a woman complaining of non-specific pain and anxiety.

After 20 minutes of questions, the students wrote seven pages of notes and recommended two drugs: a painkiller and an antidepressant. Anne considered the students’ analysis and agreed that it was based on sound medical evidence. But something told her there was more to the story.