Primary and specialty care clinicians strive to base diagnoses and treatment on specific, measurable abnormalities. Yet those with invisible, controversial illnesses such as myalgic encephalomyelitis/chronic fatigue syndrome (ME/CFS) often have symptoms not explained by standard laboratory values. For instance, one of the cardinal features of ME/CFS is postexertional malaise, the exacerbation of symptoms-fatigue, pain, cognitive dysfunction-following exertion, which contradicts studies showing the health benefits of exercise. In these cases, overly physicalist approaches to caring for patients are not likely to be helpful, and a clinician's willingness to listen to a patient's experience of illness becomes essential.
CITATION STYLE
Wall, D. (2021, July 1). The importance of listening in treating invisible illness and long-haul COVID-19. AMA Journal of Ethics. American Medical Association. https://doi.org/10.1001/amajethics.2021.590
Mendeley helps you to discover research relevant for your work.