中華心理衛生協會

 Purpose: We investigated the experience of suffering as a medical concept by redefining the term and reviewing current academic approaches to disease and suffering. Methods: We applied a phenomenological discovery approach to address a methodological concern different from the current medical model of clinical intervention. From literature review and personal reflections, we theorized enquiry into the lived experiences of suffering. Results: We argue that the lived experience of suffering uncovers not only an epistemological understanding of one's disease, but the entry point of 'Non-self', in which 'Self' is the destination for manifesting one's ontological self-other ethics. Treatment and clinical intervention needs to address the core ontological concern of the lived experience of suffering in order to transition from a medical perspective of knowledge about one's disease to a humane position acknowledging suffering. We conclude by presenting a phenomenological model of ethical connection. Conclusion: We conclude with 3 stages of reflexive concern in which the lived experiences of suffering open a route for a clinical practitioner de-constructing 'Self' and re-constructing the ontological ethics with 'Other'. We suggest that a clinical practitioners encompass not only an understanding of the experience of a disease, but also acknowledgement of suffering, by his/her every face-to-face encounter with patients or clients.