Clinical empathy and patients’ rights in geriatric care: analysis of the perception of physicians and elderly patients

Abstract

The research object of this study is to analyze articulations between clinical empathy and patients’ rights and to propose a set of supporting foundations to build a theoretical basis for the formulation of an aspect of Clinical Bioethics, based on clinical empathy and patients’ rights. The research was carried out involving 5 geriatricians and 4 elderly patients. Geriatric care is permeated by a series of challenges related to the biopsychosocial process of aging, which causes cognitive, emotional, and physical vulnerabilities in elderly patients, which is combined with problematic issues concerning ageism. Thus, elderly patients, in addition to the weaknesses experienced by patients in general, have specificities that make them fear placing themselves in an equal relationship with the physician, by asking questions, inquiring about risks, and bringing their perspective into the decision-making process.