The Rashomon effect: A Healthcare Crisis..

The current crisis in the healthcare is driving significant changes in the primary care team. Witnessing this is not easy and it is perceived quite differently depending on the perspective of the person looking on. We all have a partial view of a complex healthcare system and, with dizzying force, it seems to be flipping into a new state. The experiences of doctors or physician associates or paramedics or nurses will not necessarily be the same.

Rashomon is a 1950 film by the influential Japanese director Akira Kurosawa. At its heart is a deeply traumatic event — the rape of a woman and the murder of her samurai husband. Four witnesses provide incomplete and contradictory reports. The Rashomon effect is an established storytelling technique but it is also has currency beyond its use for dramatic effect. As one anthropologist put it: ‘The Rashomon effect shows up in many intellectual undertakings that deal with contested interpretations of events or with disagreements and evidence for them, or with subjectivity/ objectivity, memory, and perception.’

The COVID-19 Inquiry began in June 2022 and offers copious examples of the Rashomon effect. We all have experienced the trauma of a pandemic in varying ways and, now, the slow collapse of the system as we know it. It is more drawn out and there is a lack of defining moment but, nonetheless, there are multiple concerns and anxieties. Doctors may worry about the diminution of their role and the impacts for patients. Newly developed roles, such as physician associates, will have their own stresses — they need a safe environment to practise and there are unresolved challenges around career trajectories.

There have been some signs that frustration with changes is bubbling over into inter-professional rancour. When it comes to the primary care team, that would be a calamity. There is not always a ‘right’ answer and the COVID-19 Inquiry is notable for highlighting ‘contested interpretations’. That others have perspectives that are opposed to ours but are not ‘wrong’ can be a painful thing to acknowledge. As the priest in Rashomon states: ‘This time, I may finally lose my faith in the human soul. It’s worse than worse than bandits, the plague, famine, fire or wars.’

In healthcare, the Rashomon Effect highlights how a single medical condition can be interpreted differently based on various perspectives.

??????????????’?? ??????????????????????: Patients often share their symptoms through the lens of personal experiences, shaped by emotions, fears, and past health challenges.

????????????’?? ??????????????????????: Healthcare professionals focus on clinical details, analyzing symptoms with precision and evidence-based knowledge.

????????????????????’?? ??????????????????: Different specialists view the same condition through their specific expertise, offering varied recommendations. While valuable, this diversity can sometimes overwhelm patients.

Conflicting viewpoints may lead to confusion in diagnosis or treatment, making it difficult for patients to decide which path to follow.

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?????????????????? ???????? ??????????????????????????: Encouraging open dialogue ensures that patients’ stories are truly heard and understood.

???????????????????? ?????? ??????????????????: Seeking second opinions and using objective tests can clarify the diagnosis by blending personal experiences with clinical data.

?????????????????????????? ????????: A unified healthcare team can provide the best care, honoring both the patient’s story and scientific accuracy.

By embracing diverse perspectives, let’s continue to foster collaboration, open communication, and mutual respect in our healthcare journey, ensuring that every patient feels valued and understood.

#rashomoneffect #patientcare #medicaldiagnosis #healthcareteam #opencommunication

#drmahboob khan