LAUSR

from medical teaching and activities. Whilst we understand the reasoning behind this, we personally feel that continuing our non-medical care roles alongside our clinical medical education has promoted a more holistic approach to our studies and to patient care. Prior research has demonstrated the negative effects of the “hidden” clinical curriculum on the physician–patient relationship (Pololi and Price 2000), and this separation of humanistic and clinical medicine is exactly what the FCE aims to avoid. We believe that maintaining narrative learning alongside clinical training could further improve the outcomes and longitudinal effects of the FCE. This approach would allow students to apply the skills in a hospital environment and reflect upon their experiences, ultimately embedding the insights gained more deeply into their attitudes and practice. Humanistic and clinical medicine should not be two separate entities, and teaching them simultaneously promotes holistic medical care which places patient dignity and autonomy at the forefront of treatment. Disclosure statement