RT Journal Article
SR Electronic
T1 Compassion
JF Clinical Medicine
JO Clin Med
FD Royal College of Physicians
SP 121
OP 124
DO 10.7861/clinmedicine.15-2-121
VO 15
IS 2
A1 Saunders, John
YR 2015
UL http://www.rcpjournals.org/content/15/2/121.abstract
AB The term ‘compassion’ has been much used and little discussed. I argue that compassion is a virtue in the Aristotelian sense, one of a family of other-regarding properties and belongs to the affective qualities of a moral agent. Its exercise is an essential component of good medical care in many situations and requires grounding in moral principles. Although our dispositions vary, compassion is a quality that can be developed in all of us.