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This book is primarily for medical students and trainees, and explores the psychosocial impact of serious illness and the doctor’s role in counselling patients. The doctor needs to be both treatment expert, making the correct diagnosis, and a witness to the patient’s suffering and distress. The book is divided into three sections: The experience of illness (the impact of illness on both the patient’s body and life); The doctor’s role (talking to the patient, empathy and compassion); and Reflections of doctors on illness, medical training and clinical care (conclusions, additional resources). |