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Microlecture 021: How Rituals Promote Healing
Biomedicine is in the business of doing ceremonial things unceremoniously. As clinicians, we bear witness to solemn life milestones of patients and families including birth and death. However, we often fail to bear witness to the joy and sorrow that manifests during these events. In keeping our safe, scientific distance, we may become inured to…
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Microlecture 020: Should Clinicians Engage in Small Talk with Patients?
Should we do small-talk with patients to set them at ease? This may be a standard expectation in some cultures. In fact, by making patients comfortable, we can expect them to engage more meaningfully and be willing to participate and take an active role in their care. That said, is small talk the best use…
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Microlecture 019: What is the Difference Between Social Touch and Therapeutic Touch?
Culture governs how we interpret many things including acceptable norms for touch. In many cultures, it is not acceptable to make prolonged social eye contact ( it is seen as a forward gesture). It is not appropriate to touch a person, especially a person from the opposite gender. In medicine, touch (or “haptics“) is a…
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