Fostering Healing Through Mindfulness In The Context of Medical Practice

Abstract

When physicians think or say, “There is nothing left to do”; or worse, “I have nothing to offer you” they are mistaken.  When cure is no longer possible an opportunity for healing emerges. A physician, of course, cannot heal a patient, but he/she can foster healing through his/her own conscious presence. Another term for this quality of presence is mindfulness.  Herein I consider how a physician’s mindfulness may facilitate healing in the context of medical practice.  While healing occurs in people who live with handicaps and diseases in and outside of the medical system, I restrict my discourse to medical patients seeking treatment from physicians.