The Art of Detachment

Instrumentation:

Duration: 3:25

Written in: 2015

Category: Video

William Osler, often called the “Father of Modern Medicine,” once noted, “A rare and precious gift is the art of detachment.” Striking the right balance between empathy and objectivity when interacting with patients is one of the most daunting challenges facing health care professionals. If there is a lack of empathy, the patient might feel alienated. If emotions get out of hand, there may be any number of unpleasant or even fatal consequences, including contempt from colleagues, a misdiagnosis, or burn out. This video piece is a collection of quotations by health care professionals. The use of a computer voice serves a double purpose. Some medical professionals prefer to remain anonymous when discussing their views on this topic in public forums. It is also a metaphor representing the emotionally neutral, almost machine-like way in which many medical professionals must behave in order to cope with their feelings.

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