A Critical Analysis of Neurological Theories on Empathy in Healthcare

International Journal of Feminist Approaches to Bioethics 14 (2):97-113 (2021)
  Copy   BIBTEX

Abstract

Some employ neurological theories of empathy to train medical students and to explain why care work is emotionally exhausting. I argue, however, that these theories develop conceptual and methodological confusion that creates a reductive and misdirected focus in patient-centered care. Neurological theories on empathy do not help us understand patient-centered care, nor do they help us understand why care work can be exhausting. By discussing examples of care work, I argue that empathic attentiveness to patients is a dialogical ethical response to the whole person and takes place in daily care settings of working, helping, and responding to each other.

Other Versions

No versions found

Links

PhilArchive



    Upload a copy of this work     Papers currently archived: 103,449

External links

Setup an account with your affiliations in order to access resources via your University's proxy server

Through your library

Similar books and articles

The relationship between empathy and sympathy in good health care.Fredrik Svenaeus - 2015 - Medicine, Health Care and Philosophy 18 (2):267-277.
Bringing a Critical Structural Frame to Person-Centered Care.Alex B. Neitzke - 2013 - American Journal of Bioethics 13 (8):57-58.
Relational autonomy as an essential component of patient-centered care.Carolyn Ells, Matthew R. Hunt & Jane Chambers-Evans - 2011 - International Journal of Feminist Approaches to Bioethics 4 (2):79-101.

Analytics

Added to PP
2021-09-30

Downloads
22 (#1,015,764)

6 months
5 (#702,808)

Historical graph of downloads
How can I increase my downloads?