(originally published at www.hospitalimpact.org)
I have oft written about the
Hippocratic Oath and
empathy in healing, and was elated to see the recent
article "The Science of Compassion."
As I wrote in "Doctors promise holistic care under Hippocratic Oath," whether you call it "woo woo," squishy, or warm and fuzzy, as the Hippocratic Oath illustrates, sympathy, understanding, holism and joy in healing are vital for any optimal healing model.
Similarly, the author of "The Science of Compassion" makes the point, "If we say, oh, the practice of compassion is something holy, nobody will listen. If we say, warm-heartedness really reduces your blood pressure, your anxiety, your stress and improves your health, then people pay attention."
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