“The very fact that these doctors continuing to be doctors--highly successful ones--despite their errors and their accompanying assaults on their self-definion would itself be a potent lesson to the students and interns. It is possible to hold one's head up… — Danielle Ofri Copy Share Image
“In general, empathy is easier the more we can identify with someone. When we can genuinely envision ourselves in a situation, it's possible to… — Danielle Ofri Copy Share
“How the sadness is handled by the physician has a powerful impact on the medical care received by the patients. If the grief is… — Danielle Ofri Copy Share
“Burnout also leads to a large swath of physicians who aren't as empathetic toward their patients as they could be.” — Danielle Ofri Copy Share
“Grief ate at these doctors, distracting them from both their families and their patients. Many reported withdrawing from emotional involvement with their patients and… — Danielle Ofri Copy Share
“Empathy requires being attuned to the patient's perspective and understanding how the illness is woven into this particular persons' life. Last--and this is where… — Danielle Ofri Copy Share
“Hospital life--with its byzantine array of moving parts layered atop the unpredictable rhythms of illness--is a permanent state of flux.” — Danielle Ofri Copy Share
“Fear is a primal emotion in medicine. Every doctor can tell you of times when she or he was terrified; most can list more… — Danielle Ofri Copy Share
“But I realized that not only did I need to keep tuning my skills as a doctor, I also had to figure out a… — Danielle Ofri Copy Share
Being a doctor, I worry that the patient may be uncomfortable about sharing something. It could be sexual dysfunction, an eating disorder, depression, domestic… — Danielle Ofri Copy Share
“Empathy--the ability to identify with someone else's suffering--is certainly a prerequisite for a genuine apology.” — Danielle Ofri Copy Share
“Neuroscientist Antonio Damasio describes emotions as the "continuous musical line of our minds, the unstoppable humming." This basso continuo thrums along while doctors make… — Danielle Ofri Copy Share
“Thus, whatever the medical student has been taught, and even genuinely believes, about the ideals of medicine, the primacy of empathy, the value of… — Danielle Ofri Copy Share
“But while the patient does bear some responsibility, I believe that the onus falls more heavily on the doctor to be attuned to the… — Danielle Ofri Copy Share
Doctors are taught in medical school that people ususally underreport their alcohol and drug use, so we genreal double the amount we're told. Don't… — Danielle Ofri Copy Share
“Suddenly, I was plunged back into an avid learning environment, starting at the bottom and working my way painstakingly up the mountain. The thrill… — Danielle Ofri Copy Share
