THE BIOETHICAL ARGUMENT FOR WHY EMPATHY SHOULD BE A CRITICAL COMPONENT OF THE MEDICAL SCHOOL CURRICULUM

Abstract

It is near universally accepted that empathy is a desirable trait for physicians and physicians in training. Empathy is not simply a desirable trait, it is part of the deontological duty of a physician. When physicians understand their patients they can offer them options which are best suited for them, thus giving patients autonomy. Empathy is especially important for patients in urban and undeserved environments as a weapon against conscious and unconscious bias. Interestingly, the data also suggest that empathy improves patient outcomes in multiple settings. Unfortunately the evidence would suggest that medical students become less emphatic over the course of their training. This paper argues that empathy should be emphasized in medical education and also gives suggestions as to how it can be better incorporated and nurtured in a curriculum.