Treat yourself: Abraham Verghese’s TED talk: A doctor’s touch

by Olivier on October 19, 2011

I have always considered Abraham Verghese, the author of “Cutting for Stone” and “My Own Country: A Doctor’s Story” and professor at Stanford University School of Medicine as one of my teachers. His views on medicine and the patient-practitioner relationship have shaped my interactions with clients. His books are the kind of books that make you question what you think you know of the world. I never miss an opportunity to read or listen to his talks and interviews.

Dr. Verghese delivered a fantastic presentation at TED Global in Edinburgh last Summer. In this talk, he advocates again for a renewal of the art of touch in medicine. Auscultation and the physical examination are quickly becoming a lost art in a world where technology is considered the authoritative diagnostic resource. This of course results in a lost of contact between patients and practitioner and contribute to the dehumanization of the treatment.

Treat yourself, watch the presentation and let me know what you think of it.

Tagged as: auscultation, physical exam, TED, touch, Verghese

{ 1 comment }

Jim Richadson November 7, 2011 at 9:04 pm

That was a fantastic presentation. He is so right about the way people are treated in hospitals today. The idea of touching your patient seems to have slipped by the way side with technology. It is so nice to hear someone speak of being compassionate with your patients through the simplest of things, touch.

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