photo sharing and upload picture albums photo forums search pictures popular photos photography help login
JenFu Cheng | all galleries >> Photo-a-Day Project >> june_2005 > June-15-2005
previous | next
15-JUN-2005

June-15-2005

Empathy is a keystone of medicine.
It goes beyond sympathy where one has a "feeling or an expression of pity or sorrow for the distress of another." Simply, sympathy is when you feel bad for another because you can IMAGINE how much pain the other person is experiencing.
Empathy, on the other hand, is when you feel bad for the other person because you have truly EXPERIENCED the pain that the patient is experiencing.
Nerve conduction studies are uncomfortable at best, painful at worst for patients. The test involves shocking nerves with electricity to see how well they are working. As Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation doctors, we perform this test often to patients. But, in order to learn how to perform these tests, we practice on each other...over and over again. I won't even mention the needle examination part of the EMG test!
So, during these workshops, young doctors learn much more than just the technical aspects of these examinations.

Nikon D100 ,Fujicolor NPC 160
1/125s f/1.4 at 50.0mm iso800 full exif

other sizes: small medium large auto
comment | share
yinishye 27-Aug-2005 05:53
The notion that these so-called tests have any meaning or medical relevance at all is absurd. They come from the middle ages and indicate absolutely nothing. Anyone conned into participating in this mombo jumbo has been victimized.
Guest 16-Jun-2005 13:56
Shocking, isn't it?

Sorry, had to be said. You guys are more like young Frankenstien's than doctors :)

I do think it's a good part of the learning process though, as you can truly know what your patients are experiencing.
Guest 16-Jun-2005 13:13
Yeah, had that done too. It's not the most pleasant feeling in the world, but at least as a patient it's only done once. :-)
Jess Nicolosi 16-Jun-2005 11:43
Ugh. I've been on the receiving end of this too. No fun.
Guest 16-Jun-2005 06:50
ouch!! painful doc.