Question

Patients expect an “I-Thou” relationship when they are in a healthcare facility. Often, the staff is so busy that this is difficult and patients become “Its.” What do you think is the best way to encourage staff to have an “I-Thou” or at least an “I-You” relationship with patients.

Answer 1

The I-Thou relationship is where one meets other person as who they are rather than what they represent. This is a emotional and spiritual relationship to others that can only lead to true relating and compassion for one other.

Rather than looking a mother living as homeless we can see her as a mother and a women with name and personal story, her story becomes part of our life and humanity.

How we relate to one another plays an important role in relationships. Consider following terms :

• HIV infected
• Alcoholic
• Single mother

Do we relate to someone as an HIV infected person, or do we relate to this person for who they are in their experience being HIV infected?

We could be better served served in our intentions to create world better for so many if we considered how we relate to one another.

On our conscious level we can check what intentions have we related to others impacts our communication and relationship.

We should acknowledge how we think of patients even when health worker is not with them.

Health workers should be open to maintain an intimate relationship with patients.

Health workers should hold patients in heart and sense still have what I would consider a genuine relationship with them.