This document discusses the importance of practicing empathy in healthcare. It defines dehumanization as failing to treat individuals as human beings by viewing them as objects. Specifically in healthcare, dehumanization can occur when patients are referred to by numbers, procedures, illnesses rather than by their own names. This can make patients feel excluded. Consequences of dehumanization include helplessness, stereotyping, decreased empathy, and inequity in care. In contrast, humanization, which involves placing the patient at the center of care, can lead to compassion, empathy, and reflective care.
