‘I feel your pain’: Knowing when doctors should show empathy
Do we have the time or emotional energy to empathise with every patient, asks Dr Jim Newcombe
My family has gone through a bit in the past few years.
I’ve written about some of the highlights (lowlights, perhaps) in these pages: A paediatrician reveals another dirty secret about childbirth, Why is the miscarriage club still so secret?, When sibling rivalry takes a serious turn.
A recurring theme in our recent experiences has been the ability, or sometimes inability, of our friends and family to relate to our suffering.
Inevitably, those who have gone through similar experiences relate the best.
