How to Demonstrate Empathy on Casper®

In order to better understand how to perform well on empathy metrics on Casper, it is helpful to understand why this is being measured in the first place.
 
Why are medical schools and other health professions programs so interested in selecting applicants who possess empathy?
 
Let's look at an example in a professional context for some insight. Below, we'll share a story an example of effective empathy in a surgeon's office.
 
65-year-old Frank had worked construction his whole life, and he desperately needed a knee replacement. It had gotten to the point that Frank couldn't even walk the two blocks over to visit his grandchildren. Frank had been a candidate for knee surgery for several years, but had been rejected by the two orthopedic surgeons he'd seen.
 
Frank was a Jehovah's Witness, which meant that he had a religious objection to receiving a blood transfusion. As Frank was on blood thinners for his heart issues, the surgeons he had visited deemed him an unacceptable bleeding risk and declined to operate. "If you won't consent to the possibility of receiving blood, I just can't help you, Frank." They even tried to get him to reconsider his belief. Frank knew they thought his view was ridiculous, but they just didn't understand his values.
 
Frank's family doctor was determined to help him and referred him to another surgeon; one who had a reputation of going the extra mile for patients. Frank's wife drove him to the surgeon's office and Frank explained his situation. The surgeon listened to him, knowing that this patient's beliefs needed to be respected, even though they weren't beliefs that the surgeon shared.
 
"I'll do some research and talk to some colleagues to see if we can find a way to get your knee replaced, Frank." The surgeon contemplated the problem, empathizing with Frank's dilemma: if he got the knee replacement, he could be shunned by his church and community, and even his family.
 
A few days later, the surgeon's office called Frank with the news: the surgeon had found a colleague who practiced bloodless surgery-a combination of techniques to minimize blood loss-and Frank could get his knee replacement! Frank hung up the phone and, with tears in his eyes, hugged his wife.
 
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A doctor who practices empathy can completely change a patient's perspective on the medical profession and even the healthcare system. People need their needs met in a way that works for them, and this can only be achieved through empathizing with the patient.
 
Frank was lucky to find a surgeon who understood how important Frank's beliefs were to him and who respected those beliefs. And because of his empathetic surgeon, Frank was able to have his health problem resolved-a life-altering problem that never would have been fixed by the unempathetic surgeons.
 
Given this example, you can understand why medical schools and other health professions programs are so interested in choosing applicants who can display empathy.