Compassion – the foundation(s) of palliative care

Tomasz Pasierski; Antonina Doroszewska; Krzysztof J. Krysa

doi:10.5114/pm.2025.152969

eISSN: 2081-2833
ISSN: 2081-0016

Medycyna Paliatywna/Palliative Medicine

Current issue Archive Manuscripts accepted About the journal Editorial board Abstracting and indexing Subscription Contact Instructions for authors Publication charge Ethical standards and procedures

Editorial System

Submit your Manuscript

2/2025
vol. 17

Send email

Copy url:

abstract:

Review paper

Compassion – the foundation(s) of palliative care

Tomasz Pasierski

¹

,

Antonina Doroszewska

²

,

Krzysztof J. Krysa

³

Studium Etyki Lekarskiej i Historii Medycyny, Warszawski Uniwersytet Medyczny, Warszawa, Polska
Studium Komunikacji Medycznej, Warszawski Uniwersytet Medyczny, Warszawa, Polska
Klinika Medycyny Paliatywnej, Warszawski Uniwersytet Medyczny, Warszawa, Polska

Medycyna Paliatywna 2025; 17(2): 63–67

DOI: https://doi.org/10.5114/pm.2025.152969

Online publish date: 2025/07/24

View full text Get citation

PlumX metrics:

Compassion is an important element of taking care of a patient. This idea is deeper than the concept of empathy because it also includes the will to provide the patient with competent help. Opponents of compassion emphasize its negative impact on objective medical judgment and connect it with the risk of emotional burnout. Compassion plays a special role in end-of-life care, where the greatest accumulation of suffering takes place. Teaching of compassion is based on protecting already possessed empathy, and relies on developing imagination more than strengthening of emotions.

keywords:

Compassion – the foundation(s) of palliative care

Tomasz Pasierski 1 , Antonina Doroszewska 2 , Krzysztof J. Krysa 3

compassion, empathy, palliative care, end of life, emotional burnout

Tomasz Pasierski

¹

,

Antonina Doroszewska

²

,

Krzysztof J. Krysa

³