“Talk to Me—I'm Human”: The Story of a Girl, Her Personhood, and the Failures of Health Care

Abstract

Perspectives on the concept of personhood and its relationship to health care delivery are considered in the context of the life of an adolescent with multiple disabilities. One phenomenological interview lasting 3 hours illuminated life-long experiences of suffering, healing, and the quest to be treated as human, as perceived by a 16-year-old girl disfigured by multiple cancer treatments. Age-appropriate development is the ground of her existence, whereas the quality of relationships with care providers and the extent to which they demonstrate regard for her value as a person are figural. Health care providers have often failed to interact with her in ways supporting dignity and growth, treating her with “care” that is antithetical to the aims of their professions. The case has relevance for health care education and practice, challenging professionals to examine their views on personhood and self-care agency, and the ways in which those views impact the care they provide.