3. Apply 'witnessing' to the alleviation of suffering.

4. Specify what limits and facilitates compassion.

5. Explain the role of story-telling in the healing process.

8. Recognize problems both physicians and patients face in dealing with chronic disease.

Unit 3Section 2The Experience of Illness

'His whole life is broken by this. Everyone here is seeing and experiencing revolution. Attack, assassination of the body followed by revolution and the new government.’

‘Sounds too political for me.’

‘It is,’ Miriam said thoughtfully, ‘It’s the politics of helplessness.’ From Janet Frame Intensive Care

The purpose of this section is to demonstrate aspects of the physical and psychological impact of illness on patients