Professional Ethics Education: Studies in Compassionate Empathy

Abstract

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Empathy, sympathy and compassion in healthcare: Is there a problem? Is there a difference? Does it matter?

“…It is not sufficient to mimic the patterns of speech or behaviours which appear empathic, there must also be authentic concern. 44,45 Maxwell 16 proposes that empathy can be conceived as a competence or disposition which plays a role in enabling moral judgement and so is basic to moral functioning. Hilifker argues that a fundamental goal of teaching ethics in medicine should be to foster a sense of empathy.…”

“…58 This constellation of constructs are often then collectively referred to as empathy. 58 Maxwell 16 summarises this confusing situation: 'When it comes to ''empathy'' the waters of terminological confusion run deep indeed'' I argue, however, that despite this complexity, empathy is the preferable term to replace 'sympathy' or 'compassion' in clinical care. 2 Empathy does include elements of sympathy and compassion, but it also carries pertinent connotations that both sympathy and compassion lack.…”

“…2 Empathy does include elements of sympathy and compassion, but it also carries pertinent connotations that both sympathy and compassion lack. 16 Empathy clearly involves imaginative involvement and although it is possible for both sympathy and compassion to be mediated by imaginative involvement, these terms typically refer to reactive and unreflective responses whose features require no great psychological acumen to appreciate. Empathy seems to suggest a response to situations whose features are more subtle, imperceptible and complex which require both affective and cognitive skills to perceive, share, understand and put into action.…”

“…16 For Maxwell,16 empathy involves capacities of moral sensitivity, both opening oneself to the other's subjective experience and getting judgements about the others' subjective experience right (empathic accuracy). Maxwell proposes the term 'compassionate empathy' to resolve this conceptual confusion but I argue that a less confusing solution is to develop a broad conceptualisation of empathy which is of particular relevance in a medical setting.…”

“…13 A broad model of empathy with clear components encourages researchers and medical educators to study and teach the construct, whereas the vaguer notions of compassion are much more difficult to research or to teach. 16 …”