Empathy, Sympathy, Tomatoes, Potatoes, Compassion, Pity and Mirror Synaesthesia

<p>Empathy, sympathy, compassion, pity and now: mirror synaesthesia. I’m confused.</p><p>&nbsp;As healthcare professionals, we are told the gold standard is empathy when it comes to understanding those in our care, yet what does this really mean? And, is it actually a genuine emotion or an aspiration? Or, perhaps even a convenient fiction? How do I know if I’m being empathetic and not simply deluding myself and doing nothing more than projecting my own emotions and assumptions onto my patients?<br><br>And then there is the new kid on the block, mirror synaesthesia, which is akin to empathy on steroids, and might just be pseudoscience…</p><p>&nbsp;How do you feel about this? Me? I’m really confused. So, in this episode,&nbsp; we’re going to explore the underlying assumptions that inform these concepts and separate what’s grounded in evidence, and what’s based in wishful thinking.<br><br>The Handover, brought to you by Ausmed. For more information, visit <a href="https://www.ausmed.com.au">https://www.ausmed.com.au</a>.</p>