Empathy

Artwork by Ian Williams 21 October 2022

Comic

A four panel comic in black and white with a bright green accent tone.

The first panel shows a young male GP with a beard sitting at his consulting desk next to his desk phone. Across the desk is his patient. The GP is saying "Anxiety and depression are very common, so don't be too hard on yourself... I think I should sign you off for another month."

The second panel shows the same view but the patient is leaving and says "Thank you, doctor." The GP smiles and waves to the patient. The desk phone beside him starts to ring.

The third panel shows the GP on the phone looking alarmed and concerned. The person on the other end of the line is saying "Sorry, but Dr Johnson has called in sick... so we're transferring his patients for today to your list." The GP asks "What's wrong with him?". The person replies "Stress."

The forth and final panel shows the GP now irate, frowning and gesticulating with his left hand. He shouts down the phone "STRESS?! That's PATHETIC! He needs to GROW A BACKBONE... Develop some RESILIENCE..."

Empathy. © Ian Williams for Wellcome Collection.

About the artist

Ian Williams

@TheBadDr on Instagram
ian-williams.co.uk

Dr Ian Williams is a comics artist, writer and doctor who lives in Brighton. His work includes two graphic novels, ‘The Bad Doctor‘ and ‘The Lady Doctor‘, and the third of the trilogy, ‘The Sick Doctor’, will be published in 2025. He named the area of study called graphic medicine, and is the creator and co-editor of the Graphic Medicine website. He is founder of the not-for-profit Graphic Medicine International Collective and co-author of the Eisner-nominated ‘Graphic Medicine Manifesto‘. He has produced comic strips for the Guardian newspaper, and numerous organisations, including Wellcome Collection.

Empathy

About the artist

Ian Williams

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