Doctor Quote by Lisa Sanders
““Much of the education doctors get in their four years of medical school and subsequent years of apprenticeship training is focused on teaching this skill of identifying and shaping those aspects of a patient’s life and symptoms, exams and investigations that contribute to the creation of a version of the patient’s story that makes a diagnosis possible. Indeed, the ability to create this spare and impersonal version of the patient’s story is THE essential skill in diagnosis. It’s also one of the aspects of medicine that can seem the most dehumanizing.””
About This Quote
Source Article: The New York Times, “The Dehumanizing Side of Diagnosis”, 2015
Medical training emphasizes objective analysis, often distancing clinicians from patients’ lived experiences, which can feel dehumanizing.
In simple terms: Clinical focus can detach from humanity.
Key Takeaway
Balance objectivity with empathy.
Themes
medicine
diagnosis
humanity
Mood
thoughtful
concerned
Type
medical
philosophical
When to use this quote
- clinical training
- bedside manner workshops
- patient‑centered care initiatives
Key Concepts
medical ethics
patient care
Questions to Reflect On
- How can doctors maintain empathy while diagnosing?
- What training improves humanistic care?
A Different Perspective
Over‑objectivity may miss nuanced patient cues.
