Perception of doctors, patients and family members about the role of clinical empathy in promoting patient rights in the context of disclosure
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.21527/2176-7114.2025.50.15803Keywords:
Empathy, Disclosure, Patient Rights, Patient, Adverse EventAbstract
The present article aims to analyze the existing connections between clinical empathy and patient rights, proposing foundations to build a theoretical basis for the branch of Clinical Bioethics that is based on patient rights and clinical empathy. To this end, a descriptive-exploratory research was conducted with a qualitative approach, involving 4 doctors who deal with the topic of disclosure and 5 patients and family members who experienced an adverse event in the context of health care.All participants are adults and legally capable. Disclosure is a complex and multifaceted approach, encompassing a communicational process and an apology. In the event of an adverse occurrence, disclosure must be adopted by the health organization. Thus, from its beginning to the end, it is a process permeated by emotions, given that some harm has been caused to the patient and their families, and, in certain situations, it has also affected the professional directly involved in the event. Therefore, it is important to investigate the role of empathy in the disclosure process, especially regarding the fact that the empathy of health professionals is subject to a choice process, in being empathetic or not in the disclosure process, in empathetic communication, and in the apology, which can directly affect all those involved.
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