What is Empathy?

What is Empathy?
• Empathy is the capacity to enter into another person’s
experience
Paternalistic care ?
• What is it ?
• What is the opposite ?
MCQ
You are discussing the care of an elderly woman with her
family. Although she is awake and alert, the patient is very
ill and physically fragile. You are a waiting the results of a
biopsy for what will likely be cancer which has already
metastasized throughout the body. The family asks that
you inform them first about the results of the biopsy. They
are very loving and caring and are constantly surrounding
the Patient. They do not want to depress the patient
further and because there will be no hope for a cure they
see no reason to ruin her remaining life with this
information.

What should you tell them?

MCQ
What should you tell them?
a. You will honor their wishes.
b. You agree with their wishes and you ask them to give
you the necessary written request.
c. You ask them to involve the ethics committee for the
hospital.
d. You tell them that you are obligated to inform the
patient of all the findings.
e. Explain to them that that decision can only be made by
the health-care proxy.
What does “Safety-netting
mean to you?
What does “Safety-netting
mean to you?
• ? Consultation models
• ? Neibour (1987) The Inner Consultation
• Check points
- Connecting : doctor establishes rapport with the patient
- Summarizing: doctor clarifies the patient’s reason for
consulting
- Handing over: doctor/patient negotiate and agree a
management plan
- Safety netting: doctor-patient plan for the unexpected –
managing uncertainity
- House keeping: doctor is aware of his/her own emotions