How does compassion differ functionally from empathy in patient care practice?

Answer

Compassion is empathy in action; the desire to alleviate perceived suffering.

Empathy is the understanding and sharing of another's feelings (like understanding fear of a procedure), whereas compassion is the active desire to alleviate that suffering, often demonstrated through actions like taking extra time to reassure the patient.

How does compassion differ functionally from empathy in patient care practice?
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