Takeaway
As depicted in the drama “From Scratch,” body language may often transcend words as expressions of empathy. Healthcare professionals should remain aware of how expressions, postures, and gestures can affect the ongoing conversation.
Connecting with Patients | October 30, 2024 | 1 min read
By Jeffrey Millstein, MD, Penn Medicine
Toward the end of the poignant Netflix series “From Scratch,” there’s a remarkable scene (spoiler alert) that demonstrates empathic communication between a nurse and the father of a dying patient. Here’s the catch: The father speaks only Italian, which the nurse doesn’t understand a single word of. She escorts him to a hospital kitchenette and brings him coffee while he sits at a small dining table. The camera then becomes her eyes and focuses on the father’s downward mouth and tired gaze. We hear, as the nurse does, his soft, expressive voice as he tells her a story that reveals his overwhelming fear of losing his son to illness. While she cannot comprehend his words or respond verbally, she stands transfixed as he unburdens himself, then brings him a box of tissues when his eyes begin to well up with tears. The scene ends with the father’s tender expression of gratitude, “Grazie.”
Conveying empathy usually brings to mind the use of statements which make patients feel heard and seen, like, “That must be so hard for you,” or “I wish the treatment was more helpful.” It turns out that nonverbals—gestures, facial expressions, eye contact, body position—transcend words and are just as important. Clinicians should always maintain an awareness of body language and its impact when we interact with patients, especially when emotions run high.
This piece expresses the views solely of the author. It does not necessarily represent the views of any organization, including Johns Hopkins Medicine.