Philosophy of Emergency Medicine

Liz Crowe explores the question grieving people often ask: ‘Am I normal?’ Written to accompany her podcast with Iain Beardsell, this reflection describes the varied, unpredictable experience of loss and the importance of connection, gentleness towards yourself and seeking help when needed.

What might emergency clinicians learn from Sun Tzu’s The Art of War? This reflective essay applies ideas about preparation, self-awareness, teamwork and adaptability to the pressures of emergency care, treating organisational challenges as the adversary and explicitly rejecting the idea that patients are enemies.

Why is ‘I don’t know’ so hard to say? Drawing on Think Like a Freak, this reflection explores intellectual humility, curiosity, reframing problems and seeking useful feedback, asking how ideas from outside medicine can help emergency clinicians recognise their limits and approach difficult decisions differently.

How can a discharge conversation help patients understand what is known, what remains uncertain and when to return? Natalie May outlines an approach to safety netting that combines empathy, clear explanations, expected recovery, warning signs and written advice, with attention to carers and communication with primary care.

When clinicians rely on instinct, how do they recognise when their own judgement is becoming less reliable? Iain Beardsell reflects on fatigue, distraction, emotional reactions and time pressure, sharing personal strategies for protecting attention and asking colleagues for support when he is not at his best.

Why become involved in emergency medicine research? Rick Body shares his talk from DGINA 2014 in Nuremberg, describing his unexpected route into an academic career and the value of building a stronger evidence base for emergency care, with links to research discussed in the presentation.