Nuestra NEBRIJA 31 - octubre 2019

35 that Emmanuel Lévinas argues when he alludes to the meaning and significance of the “face” is that of an ethical commitment prior to all ethnicity, culture, identity, ideology, etc.” To actually see a face is to understand that whatever that other person is, that individual in front of him asking for help deserves to be treated with humanity and dignity. For this, empathy is essential, because it is not only about healing, but about caring. To treat that person with dignity we must know that this individual has a subjective dimension, that is, he feels a pain that we cannot feel, he has thoughts that are not in our head, he can feel emotions, such as fear, that we do not understand because we are not in his situation. He also has a spiritual dimension (beliefs, values, ideals, a meaning that moves you to live...) and of course he has his corporeality, which is what has become unbalanced. That patient, therefore, at certain time may need a word of comfort more than a medication. And it is not that the latter is not important, but the empathic professional must also provide that care in a holistic way, that is, attending to all the aforementioned dimensions. Yes, illness makes us aware of our vulnerability and it is the health professional's ethical responsibility to care for the person during that state of fragility. But can one be even more vulnerable when a pathology occurswithout warning?Humancontexts are diverse and for this reason, this call made by the other (vulnerable) person increases when it comes to an immigrant patient. That person’s condition is usually intensified by being away from home (whatever the circumstance), maybe he is alone, maybe his situation is precarious, maybe his past has been tempestuous (maybe his present is as well). HIs call is more profound and our responsibility is to not ignore it. To this is added that his dimensions are more complex and their understanding requires a mental openness and cultural empathy that makes us see that this person has values, beliefs and attitudes different from ours. A true ethical treatment implies taking into account cultural dimensions and would involve the acquisition of skills by the healthcare provider in order to be able to attend them. As we have seen, the act of treating a patient is not simple. It requires holistic attention and a spirit of hospitality, i.e., welcoming the patient regardless of their origin. That value of hospitality, which sometimes seems lost in our contemporary societies, is closely linked to the healthcare world. There is a reason the word hospital shares the same root. Cultivating hospitality will help to be better health professionals, that is, to take better care of those who are sick, injured, and fragile. A t certain times , the patient may need more words of comfort than medication