Empathy plays a vital role in healthcare, often steering practitioners to the right path for their patients. In today's discussion, we delve into two compelling stories that highlight the impact of kindness and compassion in healthcare and patient care.

Selfless Acts of a Resident

Many years ago, when I was still a resident, a beggar presented at our charity ward late at night with a high fever. The night had been long, and everyone had retreated, leaving him to fend for himself. Upon learning he had no money for medication, the lab results confirmed he had malaria. The nurses informed me that the only drug available, artemisinin, would need a significant amount of money.

With the resources I had at hand, I managed to procure a pack of chloroquine tablets using a small amount of money and a few paracetamol tablets from our stock. The old timer professor was delighted with how I handled the situation. The importance of proper science combined with empathy was emphasized that day. This simple act of kindness showed that sometimes, the best solutions involve common sense and a bit of compassion.

Creating Lasting Moments for Residents

Several years later, I was the head of the dietary department at a nursing home. The job was demanding, and on my last day, I found myself leaving work with tears in my eyes. However, an unexpected opportunity arose to make a small but meaningful difference.

A resident, a taciturn woman, was waiting outside the nursing home for her daughter. I collaborated with her nurse to escort her outside where we spent a pleasant afternoon. The day was filled with vibrant leaves and warm sunshine. The walk and conversation brought the resident out of her usual somber state, and her daughter was overjoyed to see her mother in such good spirits. I felt grateful I had managed to leave that day without crying for once.

Less than two weeks later, the nursing home received a message from the resident's daughter friending her on Facebook. It turned out that this day was the last time the daughter saw her mother smile before her passing. This realization both choked me up and filled me with immense satisfaction. It was precisely that spare hour of my time that made a profound and lasting impact on a person's life.

In both instances, the act of empathy and selflessness led to meaningful outcomes. As a healthcare provider, our duty extends beyond just medical treatment; it includes the emotional and social well-being of our patients and their families.