Rehearsals for Empathy

Rehearsals for Empathy demonstrates concepts and exercises used in clinical empathy education. The film introduces us to methods such as “Rainman exercise” and “bird's eye view”, through which medical students learn about emotional alignment with the patient. The film brings to surface questions about how the patient should be encountered in times of suffering, and what the role of a modern physician might be. Should the physician “feel” what the patient is feeling, or rather stay detached to be able to function without emotional overwhelm? How to help medical students to be more attuned to what the patient is going through, while following clinical protocols under time pressure? The film is based on clinical teacher interviews at the Section of General Practice in Copenhagen medical school.