The patient-physician relationship is vital to the palliative care process of patients deemed to be nearing death, and it is the foundation to which a treatment plan may be negotiated while integrating the best medical technology and human care available. A central aspect of the relationship is influenced by incorporating the virtues mentioned earlier. In addition, hope, empathy and compassion always serve as the major ways employed to ensure pain is alleviated and enhanced participation in treatment interventions whether socially, psychological or biological, is achieved (Tasman & Kay, 2013.p 46).
The actual development of the patient-physician relationship is dependent on skilled medical assessment, the development of good rapport based on empathy, very strong therapeutic alliance and effective understanding of defense mechanisms, countertransference, and transference. Current research findings tend to support the purposeful use of the common therapy factors, of which therapeutic alliance is the most powerful meant to enhance desired clinical outcome in patients in their last term of life (Tasman & Kay, 2013.p 46). …show more content…
The astute physician is meant to be attuned to the characteristics and needs of specific populations of patient, adopting a good therapeutic approach that effectively and efficiently bridges the gap between patient and physician and leads to achievement of the main objective, healing (Tasman & Kay, 2013.p