PRACTICE PARTNER
plain about their care, what’s
often at the root, writes Dr.
Goldman, is a feeling that
others have no idea about,
Over time in
and little interest in what it’s
practising
like to be like them.
medicine, is some
Over time in practising
medicine,
is some loss of
loss of empathy
empathy an occupational haz-
an occupational
ard? Dr. Goldman says it can
hazard? Dr. Goldman be. When you see the same
situations and have the same
says it can be.
conversations thousands of
times, it’s possible to become
somewhat detached. That
should be a warning sign, not only about
your capacity for compassion but about your
effectiveness.
“I use empathy to get on the same page with
the patient,” says Dr. Goldman. “If I can’t fit