Is a Lack of Love Breaking Healthcare?

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Just recently, our small group was discussing the story in Mark chapter 12 of Mary anointing Jesus’ feet with an expensive concoction. We discussed the cynicism and criticism of some of the eye witnesses that didn’t understand this act of worship and highlighted that it is so easy for us to embody that same cynicism and critical spirit because of a lack of love in our heart for Christ and for others. And because many of us in our small group are health care providers, we then applied that to not only our families but also our healthcare workplaces. It was at that point that one of our members brought up a recent paper he had read regarding this very topic.

As he shared, it was incredibly applicable and I requested that he send me the full article so I could also read it. The title instantly grabbed my attention. “Love Your Patient as Yourself: On Reviving the Broken Heart in Medical Ethics." And wow, what a fascinating essay it is. It reminded me very much of the surgeons general report on loneliness that came out a year or two ago because the authors very much identified a problem, provided the historicity behind the problem and even went so far as to invoke the necessity and importance of the fall of the explicitly Christian worldview as a component of the problem. I always find it intriguing when problems are identified in humanity and others recognize the value of the explicitly Christian worldview, even if those identifying these problems are not believers in Jesus or followers themselves.

But what is that problem? What is the brokenness in our current healthcare system? A lack of love.
Let that sink in. According to the authors, it is not information, it is not technology. It is not interpersonal communication but a deep, gnawing emptiness of love for people.

The authors go on to discuss several cases of patients who expressed frustration of not being “seen” (in an emotional sense of the word) and just being treated as projects or experiments or cattle in interactions within the healthcare system. They then begin to look at why this ecosystem has shifted so dramatically and discuss that the shift away from healthcare in the home when physicians would make house calls and form deeper relationships may have played a role. They discuss how the movement away from the “art of healing” to the more objective “scientific pursuit” has impacted our healthcare landscape and how industrialization began to shift guiding principles from relationship - love and care - to expert and scientist in which bodies are more experiments than humans. Truly fascinating observations!

They then, quite shockingly, point to the fact that what is missing is true love. Not feelings or affirmation or approval, but true, sacrificial love and care for our fellow suffering humans. They note that selfishness, pride, prestige, and greed have all replaced and undergirded our current system as true virtues have been left in the dust and buried in the name of progress. And according to the authors, the only way to fix the brokenness and recapture the heart of American medicine is to bring back the virtue of love by pointing to many truths and principles that are directly and uniquely embedded in the Christian worldview.

I for one, completely agree with their analysis and think they are spot on. If we look around, we can see the same kind of pervasive negative attitude the authors describe and maybe you have even experienced that cold, calculated attitude yourself as a patient. So, then the authors offer a few suggestions to begin to fix the problem which included different ethical education in medical schools and more time serving the underprivileged in our communities.
 
But, I think they miss the mark in their suggestions because while they rightly identify that what they want to see is found in the Christian worldview, they stop short of the real solution. We have removed so much of truth and God in our educational institutions so, if we are to recapture love in patient care, we should concurrently bring back bible study and/or encourage students to attend church and seek truth and faith found in Christianity. In short, a revival of the heart needs to not only occur but should be encouraged.

And here’s where you and I come in as believing physical therapists (or other healthcare providers if you are reading this). You and I are the only ones who can truly love others in the way the authors advocate for, because we recognize Christ first loved us. So, we need to live and share that good news. As practitioners who spend extensive time with patients, who pay attention, we have the capacity to truly have an impact and bring love back into the main of the American healthcare ecosystem.

The world has rejected true, worthwhile values while simultaneously longing for them because of the emptiness and darkness around them. It’s time we lead the way in bringing them back. Treat your patients excellently. Serve your patients well. Love your patients well. And let them know that you are able to do that because of Jesus, the only way.

Jason

***Check out my book "Rehab the World" written for Physical Therapists to encourage us in our workplace and prepare us to serve those around us. If you like, please leave a review and spread the word!!***

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