The habit of humanism: a framework for making humanistic care a reflexive clinical skill

While many have voiced the need for increased humanism in the practice of medicine, few approaches exist for explicitly and systematically permeating the medical culture with humanistic thinking and behavior. This article describes the central importance of developing a "habit" of humanistic communication, decision making, and behavior. The habit comprises three essential tasks: (1) identifying the multiple perspectives in any clinical encounter; (2) reflecting on how these perspectives might converge or conflict; and (3) choosing to act altruistically. Teaching this model can enhance students' and medical professionals' abilities to think and act humanely and is a valuable way to make humanistic care a reflexive clinical skill.