Opinion
To get more empathy, focus more on character of med school applicants
LETTER — Posted April 21, 2008
Regarding "Students lose empathy for patients during medical school" (Article, March 24/31): We should all be appalled at how low the empathy levels are throughout training, especially amongst the male medical students. Where is all of the compassion that was slathered on the pages of their applications?
Unfortunately, medical schools are worshipping at the same temple as the colleges and universities. In the scholarly arms race, we value the heft of the CV more than the depth of character. Medicine has become an elitist profession that selects people interested in a distinct lifestyle and predetermined social prominence. Perhaps it is not the curriculum but rather the minds being molded that need to be reexamined.
Those with the highest scores have never had a higher correlation with compassionate or responsible care. You cannot teach empathy to those who have never needed it.
Mary Kemen, MD, Cedar Rapids, Iowa
Note: This item originally appeared at http://www.ama-assn.org/amednews/2008/04/21/edlt0421.htm.
