Our work involves being in the presence of another person and asking them to reveal aspects of themselves to us, physically, emotionally or both. In turn, we aim to be fully present in the room whilst leaving behind our own personal lives – our beliefs, judgments, and individual differences. There is vulnerability on both sides of the doctor-patient relationship.
This panel will explore examples of vulnerability and how the panellists are able to find the bravery to sit with uncertainty or risk and continue their work. We will discuss the benefits of being brave, being vulnerable and how these are linked.
Learning Objectives
1. Discover the relationship between vulnerability and bravery
2. Identify the vulnerability in a patient in being fully present in the consulting room and understand how they as practitioners can encourage this vulnerability by helping the patient feel safe
3. Learn to recognise and accept their own vulnerabilities, embrace them and be brave enough to work through them to the benefit of themselves and their patients.