Difficult Quote by Kent Brantly
“Losing so many patients certainly was difficult, but it didn't make me feel like a failure as a physician, because I had learned that there was so much more to being a physician than curing illness. That's not the most important thing we do. The most important thing we do is enter into the suffering of others.”
About This Quote
Source Interview: 2019, "Doctors Without Borders" Documentary
Physicians' role exceeds curing; it includes sharing in patients' suffering and offering empathy.
In simple terms: Being a doctor means entering patients' suffering, not just treating disease.
Prioritize empathy alongside treatment.
Themes
Mood
Type
When to use this quote
- hospital rounds
- palliative care
- medical education
Key Concepts
Questions to Reflect On
- How can doctors protect their well‑being while empathizing?
- What training supports this?
Emphasizing empathy may be emotionally taxing for doctors.