The power of caring in clinical encounters

“One of the essential qualities of the clinician is interest in humanity, for the secret of the care of the patient is in caring for the patient.”1 Francis Peabody’s memorable quote from almost one hundred years ago still rings true today. However, when under pressure in our current medical practices (for example, during the covid-19 pandemic), it can be easy to forget that our human-to-human connections make a difference for our patients. In this article we explore how doctors can consciously use their interest in humanity and the power of caring in their clinical work. We focus on the individual clinician’s choices and actions, although we recognise that systematic problems such as limited time with patients also affect the extent to which caring can be brought into a consultation. We define “caring” as a mindset of healthcare professionals that helps them protect the humanity of themselves and others and fosters positive transpersonal relationships that feature love and kindness.2Box 1 exemplifies a consultation in which humanity was shared and that resulted in a major life change for the patient.