The empathy switch | Sammy Batt-Rawden | TEDxNHS

Those who choose to train in a healthcare profession have a higher baseline empathy than the general population. Significantly so. So why does this empathy take a nosedive so early on in their careers? And why does it never recover? Sammy Batt-Rawden explores this dilemma through the frame of moral injury - a military term likened to ‘death by a thousand cuts’. One or two traumas may be able to be overcome. But repeated over time will chip away at morale, leading to deep guilt and shame and a decline in empathy. So how do we address this? What are the coping strategies? And how do we look after our healthcare workers struggling from burn-out? Sammy is a Registrar in emergency and intensive care medicine, a doctor with the Air Ambulance Kent Surrey Sussex and the current chair of The Doctors' Association; Sammy is a fierce advocate for doctors and the NHS. Following the premature birth of her son Joshua and a turbulent 3-month stay in the neonatal intensive care unit, she now has a new appreciation of the NHS. This talk was given at a TEDx event using the TED conference format but independently organized by a local community. Learn more at www.ted.com/tedx

[@autisticautumn7379]

What an amazing talk ❤

[@Wolksby]

What a wonderful oration - so honest and heartfelt. So relevant not only to the wonderful job you all do in healthcare, but in so many walks of life - especially the closing part of your speech, which was just so very true. Thank you, Sammy! Your reception says it all!

[@Svataben]

This was both topically interesting as well as emotionally riveting. My heart was broken for her, when she described her son.

[@doctorsassociationuk5474]

We are so proud of you Sammy!

[@halfpintbuckaroo]

Amazing! Made me cry. Thank you. 😍

[@josht2834]

The part at the end about resilience is spot on. I loathe the idea of resilience... the system is tough and will break you, but you should work on yourself to fix this. As opposed to working on the system that causes people to break.

[@the_baconators2935]

inspiring and moving, made me cry too

[@funmivanessaullam2101]

This touched my heart and opened my eyes up to what it must take to be a medical professional. Thank you for sharing.

[@louisepeach4918]

This touched me on many levels. Having been blessed to work with Sammy I have seen first hand her awesomeness. Unfortunately I left nursing in February because of bullying, blame & PTSD due to lack of support. I love the NHS but the culture must change ❤️

[@nicolofontana5664]

Wow.. thankyou for sharing your story.

[@rabiaafzalbhat5307]

Incredible ❤️

[@katiehands9130]

Incredible.

[@williamchin5904]

This discussion is particular useful to people inclined towards empathy twenty four seven in life. This discussion may perhaps be dangerous to your stereotypical person on the street who is more non empathetic than empathic. These comments are being made on the nature of the first eighty percent of the video being about turning "off" empathy to be more resilient, which is and can be completely valid in specific situations. May the light shine upon us

[@MDLhu]

oh my God

[@davidkent2688]

Very interesting what Paul Bloom has to say on Empathy

[@75338]

Great. But anecdotes appealing to emotion, and repeated use of phrases like "I read this article..." and "I read this quote..." doesn't really help me fix problems.

[@alionroare7777]

The point is to raise awareness to an issue that not much attention, if any, has been given to previously. She is encouraging us to value compassion. This is where we need to start, in order to fix this problem.

[@SPATIUMARCANUM]

The rudest and least professional "doctor" you can meet. Avoid and run away if you can!

[@tonycoxall7370]

Really? You have some personal experience with her?