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In part I share in what you have stated, if I may share a story. I was in the emergency room one day and a woman came in demanding that she needed pain killers for her suffering. Now what is the compassionate response here? And don’t we think that we might get a compassionate response when we go to the emergency room (at least I hope I will)?

The nature of the compassionate response here is one that must fit the moment. If the person is dying of cancer and her medications need to be adjusted then certainly a “tough love” response is not appropriate. But that has been the history. “We can’t give you anymore. I’m sorry but you will just have to be strong.”

What if the woman is known by the hospital to be what is commonly called a “drug seeker”. She has used a number of different strategies to get more pain killers. We have this information and so now how should the emergency room folks respond?

We don’t all work in emergency rooms, but I think we might have met people who appear “stuck” in suffering. Asking what is the compassion response for that moment is often difficult. Do we see the person, or do we see the “victim” or the “enabler”?

A wise Tibetan monk once said that patience and tolerance are the roots of compassion. But I don’t think this means we sit back and dish out what I call “Grandma’s compassion” – that is to say simple platitudes that are well meaning but do little to relieve suffering. Compassion, in my humble opinion, is more than sharing with positive people (although I obviously think that is important because it can help us all to develop). It is, by definition, feeling another’s suffering and acting in some way to reduce it.

Just my thoughts.
Thank you so much for providing a stimulating post. I hope you will add more of your ideas to other posts in this group.

Compassionate blessings,
DrD

Worked in the E.R. for years and appreciate what you "see" Doc. What I see is the drug seeking and it is not what is good for the human soul. It is also not good for the D.E.A. who will take my license if I hand out drugs like jelly beans. So, the art of medicine comes in. Treat the whole patient, mind body and spirit or soul.....and help her get long term help. BTW no one every got "jelly beans" from my E.R.....and they left happy which is the "art" of medicine. What did I do....you have to go to med school to find out....Lonestar1.