Doctor Quote by Danielle Ofri
![“Thus, whatever the medical student has been taught, and even genuinely believes, about the ideals of medicine, the primacy of empathy, the value of the doctor-patient relationship--all of this is swamped once he or she steps into the wards. [...] It's no wonder that empathy gets trounced in the…” quote by Danielle Ofri](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/img-quotes/549/danielle-ofri-26196_empathy_thus-whatever-the-medical-student-has-be_1851607.jpg)
““Thus, whatever the medical student has been taught, and even genuinely believes, about the ideals of medicine, the primacy of empathy, the value of the doctor-patient relationship--all of this is swamped once he or she steps into the wards. [...] It's no wonder that empathy gets trounced in the actual world of clinical medicine; everything that empathy requires seems to detract from daily survival.””
About This Quote
Source Book: What Doctors Feel by Danielle Ofri, 2017
Medical training emphasizes empathy, yet clinical pressures often suppress it, making compassionate care difficult in practice.
In simple terms: Training stresses empathy, but real wards drown it out.
Key Takeaway
Recognize systemic barriers and protect empathy.
Themes
medicine
clinical practice
empathy
systemic pressure
Mood
frustrated
reflective
Type
observational
critical
When to use this quote
- Hospital rotations
- busy clinics
- resource constraints
- stressful shifts
Key Concepts
Professional identity
moral distress
patient care
Questions to Reflect On
- How can institutions support empathy without compromising efficiency?
- What personal habits sustain compassion?
A Different Perspective
Empathy may be perceived as a luxury in high‑stress environments.
![“Nancy [Kassebaum] and I worked on a women's health agenda when I first came. Women were not included in the protocols at NIH, the famous study, 'take an aspirin a day, keep the doctor, you know, a heart attack away.' It was done on ten thousand male medical students.” quote by Barbara Mikulski](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/img-quotes/200/barbara-mikulski-8601_agendas_nancy-kassebaum-and-i-worked-on-a-women_275749.jpg)
![“Fear is a primal emotion in medicine. Every doctor can tell you of times when she or he was terrified; most can list more episodes than you might wish to hear. [...] It may be sublimated at times, it may wax and wane, but the fear of harming your patients never departs; it is inextricably linked…” quote by Danielle Ofri](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/img-quotes/541/danielle-ofri-26196_empathy_fear-is-a-primal-emotion-in-medicine-eve_1331595.jpg)
