[Professional or private? Physician's role between success and vulnerability]

Area of Science:

• Medical Ethics
• Humanities in Medicine

Context:

• The traditional doctor-patient relationship.
• The perception of doctors in contemporary society.
• The role of personal and professional identity in medicine.

Purpose:

• To explore the dual nature of the doctor's role: professional and personal.
• To examine how vulnerability can be a foundation for the doctor-patient relationship.
• To critique the societal perception of doctors as superior.

Summary:

• This article argues that professionalism and personal connection in the doctor-patient dynamic are not mutually exclusive but complementary.
• It challenges the notion of doctors being inherently "above" patients, advocating for an understanding of shared human vulnerability.
• Embracing vulnerability is presented as essential for doctors to effectively address patient concerns and illnesses.

Impact:

• Fostering a more empathetic and effective doctor-patient relationship.
• Informing medical education to better prepare doctors for holistic patient care.
• Shifting societal perceptions of medical professionals towards greater humility and shared humanity.