General Instructions

In this learning activity, you will read and analyze the case scenario below and answer questions as it relates to empathy and sympathy in the medical setting.

Case Scenario

You are a doctor in a small town. You have been seeing patients all day; it is now your last appointment for the day. A 34-year-old woman presents to her primary care physician with fatigue and flu-like symptoms for the past two weeks. She reports that her temperature has been elevated to 37°C and has reduced energy levels and a poor appetite. She has also developed a rash on her chest and her body feels especially achy. She is generally feeling quite unwell. After completing a physical examination and ordering some blood tests, the doctor sits down with the patient to explain the results.

The tests indicate that the patient has a rare and aggressive form of cancer that has already spread throughout her body. There is no cure and the prognosis is poor, with most patients only surviving for a few months after diagnosis. As the doctor, you must remain professional and stoic, but you cannot help but feel empathy for the patient and their situation. You sit down with the patient and their family and can see the pain in their eyes. You can feel their grief, and you know that they are struggling. You take a deep breath and try to be as present as possible. You explain the situation to the patient and her family and provide them with information about treatment options and end-of-life care. You listen to their stories, and you offer them your condolences. You try to be as understanding and compassionate as possible. 

Step 1: Reflect

Read and reflect on the case scenario below as it relates to sympathy and empathy in a medical setting.

Step 2: Respond

Based on the case scenario above, prepare a 300-400 words written response that answers the following key questions:

1. What is empathy and how was it portrayed in the scenario above?
2. What is sympathy and how was it portrayed in the scenario above?
3. How is empathy critical to medical practice, and why is it particularly important after the epidemiological transition?
4. How do you maintain professionalism and appropriate expression of empathy when breaking bad news?

Step 3: Share 

To share your work, click on the “Add a new discussion topic” button under this post and paste your work into the “Message” box. Make sure to reference others’ intellectual property when necessary. All references should follow 7th Edition APA formatting. For further instructions, see the resource on the Himmelfarb Health Sciences Library: APA citation resource (N.B.: references are excluded from word counts).

Step 4: Interact 

To complete the activity, you will need to reply to at least two posts made by your peers in a respectful and professional manner. Be sure that your post engages your peers' ideas by including a reflection on their comments, sharing ideas on other potential difficulties and parties involved, or asking thought-provoking questions. If a peer comments on your posting, please reply. To post a reply, click “Reply” on a particular discussion, write your feedback and then click on “Post to forum.”

OPTIONAL Step 5: Interact (10 minutes)

If you would like to, you can reply to your peers' posts in a respectful and professional manner. Ensure that your post engages your peers' ideas by including a reflection on their comments, sharing ideas of other potential difficulties and parties involved, or asking thought-provoking questions. If a peer comments on your posting, please reply. To post a reply, click “Reply” on a particular discussion, write your feedback and then click on “Post to forum.”