Empathy in patient care

From ‘Clinical Empathy’ to ‘Empathic Concern’

Bibliographic Data

ID21702609
AuthorsClarissa Guidi (University of Groningen), Chiara Traversa (0000-0002-4419-2599, University of Groningen)
Year2021
Volume24
Issue4
Pages573-585
Publication date2021-12-01
Peer ReviewedYes
Open AccessYes
TypeARTICLE
VenueMedicine Health Care and Philosophy (JOURNAL)
Journal identifiersISSN: 1386-7423 • E-ISSN: 1572-8633
PublisherSpringer Science and Business Media LLC (PUBLISHER)
DOI10.1007/s11019-021-10033-4
PMID34196934
OpenAlexW3173950402
LanguageEN
Citations received17
References cited94

As empathy gains importance within academia, we propose this review as an attempt to bring clarity upon the diverse and widely debated definitions and conceptions of empathy within the medical field. In this paper, we first evaluate the limits of the Western mainstream medical culture and discuss the origins of phenomena such as dehumanization and detached concern as well as their impacts on patient care. We then pass on to a structured overview of the debate surrounding the notion of clinical empathy and its taxonomy in the medical setting. In particular, we present the dichotomous conception of clinical empathy that is articulated in the debate around cognitive empathy and affective empathy . We thus consider the negative impacts that this categorization brings about. Finally, we advocate for a more encompassing, holistic conception of clinical empathy; one that gives value to a genuine interest in welcoming, acknowledging and responding to the emotions of those suffering. Following this line of reasoning, we advance the notion of ‘empathic concern’, a re-conceptualization of clinical empathy that finds its source in Halpern in Med Health Care Philos (2014) 17:301–311 engaged curiosity . We ultimately advance Narrative Medicine as an approach to introduce, teach and promote such an attitude among medical trainees and practitioners

Alternative medicine · Empathy · Epistemology · Medical law · Pathology · Patient care · Philosophy of biology · Philosophy of medicine · Philosophy of science · Psychiatry · Psychotherapist · Clinical Psychology · Empathy and Medical Education · Ethics in medical practice · Innovations in Medical Education · Medicine · Nursing · Philosophy · Psychology · Social Psychology