While it is generally held that the surgeon may recognize the patient’s need to pray before surgery and should be respectful if prayer is carried out in her presence, bowing his or her head as the patient, spiritual leader, and family have a moment of prayer, it is less clear whether it is appropriate to join in, or lead a prayer, at a bedside. Usually, the quiet presence of the surgeon will be sufficient to convey a sense of respect for the importance of this act to the patient.
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January 2017Finally, the surgeon should be cognizant that her bedside manner does not go unnoticed by the other members of the healthcare team, and this role modeling sets a positive example for every professional who has contact with the patient throughout the perioperative course.
Dr. Holt is professor emeritus in the department of otolaryngology–head and neck surgery at the University of Texas Health Science Center in San Antonio.
Empathy versus Sympathy in the Clinical Setting
Sympathy: A feeling of sadness and compassion directed toward the patient herself, and to the family who has to deal with the difficulties ahead.
Empathy: The physician’s capacity to be cognizant of the emotions, concerns, family, and social contexts that affect the patient and her condition, and the attempt to understand how these factors play a role in the way the patient makes medical decisions and responds to illness; empathy can lend great depth and breadth to an understanding of how a patient deals with her adversities and medical conditions.