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[The oncologist and his patient].
1Departement Innere Medizin, Kantonsspital Basel.
Schweizerische Rundschau Fur Medizin Praxis = Revue Suisse De Medecine Praxis
|April 23, 1991
Summary
Building trust in the oncologist-patient relationship requires more than scientific skill. Compassion and ethical competence are crucial for cancer patients who feel a loss of control over their fate.
Area of Science:
- Medical Ethics
- Oncology
- Patient-Physician Relationship
Context:
- Modern medical practice relies on scientific rationale, shifting compassion to a personal physician choice.
- Cancer patients often perceive their illness and healing as external events, leading to a sense of lost control.
- The patient's experience of illness is a threat to their existence and personality, not just objective impairments.
Purpose:
- To explore the foundational elements of the physician-patient relationship, particularly in oncology.
- To highlight the significance of trust, dependence, and compassion in the care of cancer patients.
- To examine the role of ethical competence and patient information in navigating the anthropologic difference in disease perception.
Summary:
- The oncologist-patient relationship is built on mutual trust, essential for cancer patients experiencing a loss of control.
- Trustworthiness stems from scientific competence combined with personal compassion for the patient's fate.
- Ethical competence, patient information, and understanding the 'anthropologic difference' are vital for effective care.
Impact:
- Emphasizes the need for physicians to integrate ethical considerations and compassion into their practice.
- Suggests that improved communication and understanding of patient perspectives can enhance treatment adherence and outcomes.
- Underscores the importance of a holistic approach in oncology, addressing the patient's existential concerns alongside medical treatment.