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When the Spirit Hurts

When the Spirit Hurts SPECIAL ARTICLE An Approach to the Suffering Patient Emil P. Lesho, DO Our compassion must stem from a recognition of their suffering. The Dalai Lama uffering, or spiritual pain, receives little attention in medical education, research, or prac- 1 2 tice. Institutional standards for pain management often address only physical pain, the 3-5 inadequate treatment of which is widespread and well documented. However, suffering 6,7 S is more individualized, more elusive than pain. Suffering, like physical pain, may go un- 1,3,8 recognized and undertreated even in the best settings and amidst very compassionate caregivers, simply because of inadequate diagnostic skills and knowledge about the nature of suffering. While we may not be able to alleviate suffering in the same manner or to the same degree as we can physical pain, the simple recognition of suffering in the patient is the first step in a truly holistic approach, allowing the patient to feel the therapeutic power of compassion and begin healing. No specialty or subspecialty is free from the whole person cannot occur unless we patients who are suffering. Although over address concurrent suffering. And even 2500 clinical practice guidelines pervade when there is no cure or treatment, sim- medical http://www.deepdyve.com/assets/images/DeepDyve-Logo-lg.png JAMA Internal Medicine American Medical Association

When the Spirit Hurts

Lesho, Emil P.
JAMA Internal Medicine , Volume 163 (20) – Nov 10, 2003
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References (24)

Publisher
American Medical Association
Copyright
Copyright 2003 American Medical Association. All Rights Reserved. Applicable FARS/DFARS Restrictions Apply to Government Use.
ISSN
2168-6106
eISSN
2168-6114
DOI
10.1001/archinte.163.20.2429
pmid
14609779
Publisher site
See Article on Publisher Site

Abstract

SPECIAL ARTICLE An Approach to the Suffering Patient Emil P. Lesho, DO Our compassion must stem from a recognition of their suffering. The Dalai Lama uffering, or spiritual pain, receives little attention in medical education, research, or prac- 1 2 tice. Institutional standards for pain management often address only physical pain, the 3-5 inadequate treatment of which is widespread and well documented. However, suffering 6,7 S is more individualized, more elusive than pain. Suffering, like physical pain, may go un- 1,3,8 recognized and undertreated even in the best settings and amidst very compassionate caregivers, simply because of inadequate diagnostic skills and knowledge about the nature of suffering. While we may not be able to alleviate suffering in the same manner or to the same degree as we can physical pain, the simple recognition of suffering in the patient is the first step in a truly holistic approach, allowing the patient to feel the therapeutic power of compassion and begin healing. No specialty or subspecialty is free from the whole person cannot occur unless we patients who are suffering. Although over address concurrent suffering. And even 2500 clinical practice guidelines pervade when there is no cure or treatment, sim- medical

Journal

JAMA Internal Medicine – American Medical Association

Published: Nov 10, 2003

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