Accidental Kindness: A Doctor's Notes on Empathy

When we go to the doctor, we want kindness, safety, and forgiveness, but doctors also need forgiveness. Michael Stein's book examines the conflicting goals of patients and their doctors and recognizes that kindness should not be a patient's forbidden or unrealistic expectation.

Format: Paperback / softback
Length: 218 pages
Publication date: 30 October 2022
Publisher: The University of North Carolina Press

We all inevitably become patients at some point in our lives, and when we seek medical help, our thoughts often revolve around assigning blame and seeking relief from both physical symptoms and self-blame. We yearn for kindness from our doctors, manifesting as empathy, caring, compassion, and humanity. We seek safety and forgiveness, forgetting that doctors, too, may need forgiveness from their patients and themselves.

No doctor enters the medical profession with the intention of being unkind or making mistakes, but the complexity of our current medical system and the inherent human nature of doctors often lead them to act less kindly than they would like. Drawing on his experience as a primary care physician and behavioral scientist, Michael Stein delves into the often conflicting goals of patients and their doctors.

In this book, Stein challenges the notion that kindness should be an unrealistic expectation for patients. He recognizes that there are differences between patients and doctors, and he encourages us to embrace these differences rather than view them as barriers. Through his insightful analysis, Stein offers new knowledge and insights into what we can hope for and what may go wrong or right in the most intimate clinical moments.

This book is a valuable resource for anyone who seeks to understand the complexities of the patient-doctor relationship and the importance of kindness and empathy in healthcare. It provides a fresh perspective on the clinical encounter and encourages us to strive for better communication and collaboration between patients and doctors. As we navigate the challenges of healthcare, let us remember that kindness should never be a forbidden expectation and that it has the power to make a profound difference in the lives of those we care for.

Weight: 224g
Dimension: 125 x 178 x 17 (mm)
ISBN-13: 9781469671819