The compassion frame
Compassion offers no cognitive resources with which to make a decision;
it is used to calm the anxiety which often increases as information is
provided, and thus supports, or even re-establishes, interactions.
Compassion supposes that distress is recognised. It may be used in
conjunction with the medico-scientific expertise frame to demonstrate
empathy and benevolence, or when the practitioner becomes aware of the
anxiety that the information has caused. Resources are numerous and
heterogeneous; therefore, the compassion frame can be easily intertwined
with other frames. It can be confined to demonstrations of neutral
concern, such as the use of softly spoken verbal phrases (“it’s alright
my darling”, “don’t worry about it”), or to gentle and kind-hearted
gestures, such as passing a box of tissues to a woman who is crying,
placing a hand on her arm, or using humour. The practitioner might
signal his/her availability by suggesting another appointment or a
telephone call: “if you are still worried when you get home, give
me a ring” (Midwife, France). In certain cases, practitioners may
suggest postponing the decision to a later date or term. Finally, the
compassion frame can also be used in conjunction with that of medical
authority, when the practitioner engages his/her subjectivity in the
assessment of a test result: “in your case the risk is very, very
low”.