Clinical empathy: A discussion on its benefits for practitioners, students of medicine and patients

Clinical empathy is increasingly discussed in conventional and complementary medicine. Yet the term lacks an agreed conceptual base and definition. This article seeks to challenge preconceptions and stimulate conversation amongst the community of herbal practitioners, and beyond. It aims to contribute to consensus building around the meaning of clinical empathy and to the benefits it may offer practitioners, students and patients involved with the primary healthcare consultation. It is hoped that such an exploration will enable herbal practitioners to reflect on where they position themselves in a consultation and to what extent they integrate thoughts and feelings during their practice of the art and science of complementary medicine. The reading and experience as a medical herbalist and university learning facilitator led the author to the opinion that clinical empathy was a necessary clinical skill that has affective and cognitive aspects which can be developed, taught and integrated to improve the quality of patient healthcare.