A tragedy and a wake-up call Mar 17,2021 - Last updated at Mar 17,2021 Empathy. Humility. Compassion. Sympathy. Kindness. Those are some of the attributes that come to mind when we think of healthcare professionals. The medical experience between a doctor and a patient may be one of the most humane experiences in our lifetimes. Patients trust doctors with their most valuable asset — their health — in what could be one of their most vulnerable encounters of their time on this earth. In return, doctors have sworn to give a patient everything they have to offer; to go above and beyond to augment their quality of life and offer them care like no one else can. Very simply put, a doctor and a patient share a meaningful relationship that embodies the essence of vulnerability and human compassion. This relationship characterises human beings as cognitively functioning species exchanging emotions in defenseless states.