What Doctors Feel

How Emotions Affect the Practice of Medicine

By: Danielle Ofri MD

Narrated by: Andi Arndt

Length: 7 hrs and 46 mins

Publisher's summary

“A fascinating journey into the heart and mind of a physician” that explores doctor-patient relations, the flaws in our health care system, and how doctors’ emotions impact medical care (Boston Globe)

While much has been written about the minds and methods of the medical professionals who save our lives, precious little has been said about their emotions. Physicians are assumed to be objective, rational beings, easily able to detach as they guide patients and families through some of life’s most challenging moments. But understanding doctors’ emotional responses to the life-and-death dramas of everyday practice can make all the difference on giving and getting the best medical care.

Digging deep into the lives of doctors, Dr. Danielle Ofri examines the daunting range of emotions—shame, anger, empathy, frustration, hope, pride, occasionally despair, and sometimes even love—that permeate the contemporary doctor-patient connection. Drawing on scientific studies, including some surprising research, Dr. Ofri offers up an unflinching look at the impact of emotions on health care.

Dr. Ofri takes us into the swirling heart of patient care, telling stories of caregivers caught up and occasionally torn down by the whirlwind life of doctoring. She admits to the humiliation of an error that nearly killed one of her patients. She mourns when a beloved patient is denied a heart transplant. She tells the riveting stories of an intern traumatized when she is forced to let a newborn die in her arms, and of a doctor whose daily glass of wine to handle the frustrations of the ER escalates into a destructive addiction. Ofri also reveals that doctors cope through gallows humor, find hope in impossible situations, and surrender to ecstatic happiness when they triumph over illness.

©2013 Danielle Ofri (P)2021 Beacon Press

Critic reviews

"Taut, vivid prose . . . She writes for a lay audience with a practiced hand.”
—New York Times

“A fascinating journey into the heart and mind of a physician struggling to do the best for her patients while navigating an imperfect health care system.” —Boston Globe

“Insightful and invigorating…makes the case that it’s better for patients if a physician’s emotional compass-needle points in a positive direction.” —Booklist, starred review

Should be required reading.

This is an excellent book with an excellent look into a part of medicine that is not spoken about enough. Medical students and hospital management/administrators should be required to read it. Patients would also benefit. Understanding that doctors are human is critical if we are to have any chance of avoiding massive burnout today.

Love this read!

Makes you cry, laugh, and smile. Such a good read. You will love it

Book resonates with outpatient internist

I have found myself identifying with this book as an outpatient internist and teaching in an internal medicine residency. It was our
First book for our book club we started with our residents. Thank you

Jumpstart to medical profession

I liked this book. It felt like I jumped right into the life of a medical professional. I would recommend this book to anyone serious about becoming a medical professional or anyone in their pre med stage of becoming a medical doctor.