title: Vulnerability in health care--reflections on encounters in every day practice.
abstract: Vulnerability is a human condition and as such a constant human experience. However, patients and professional health care providers may be regarded as more vulnerable than people who do not suffer or witness suffering on a regular basis. Acquiring a deeper understanding of vulnerability would thus be of crucial importance for health care providers. This article takes as its point of departure Derek Sellman's and Havi Carel's discussion on vulnerability in this journal. Through different examples from the authors' research focusing on the interaction between health professionals and patients, existential, contextual, and relational dimensions of vulnerability are illuminated and discussed. Two main strategies in the professionals' interactions with patients are described. The strategy that aims at understanding the patients or families from the professional's own personal perspective oftentimes ends in excess attention to the professional's own reactions, thereby impairing the ability to help. The other strategy attempts to understand the patients or families from the patients' or families' own perspective. This latter strategy seems to make vulnerability bearable or even transform it into strength. Being sensitive to the vulnerability of the other may be a key to acting ethically.
authors.affiliation: Faculty of Health and Social Care, Molde University College, Molde, Norway. eva.gjengedal@himolde.no
authors.forename: Eva
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Gjengedal
authors.forename: Else Mari
authors.initials: EM
authors.lastname: Ekra
authors.forename: Hege
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Hol
authors.forename: Marianne
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Kjelsvik
authors.forename: Else
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Lykkeslet
authors.forename: Ragnhild
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Michaelsen
authors.forename: Aud
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Orøy
authors.forename: Torill
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Skrondal
authors.forename: Hildegunn
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Sundal
authors.forename: Solfrid
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Vatne
authors.forename: Kjersti
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Wogn-Henriksen
mesh_terms: D003695:Delivery of Health Care / Q000458:organization & administration*; D006801:Humans; D024802:Nurse's Role; D009723:Nurse-Patient Relations; D010344:Patient Advocacy; D011369:Professional-Patient Relations; D035862:Vulnerable Populations