In my pencil drawing I wanted to communicate the idea of the healing touch and did this by depicting the touch of the doctor’s hand healing facial wounds. Obviously this could never actually occur, however I felt in order to represent the main focus of the piece I needed to polarise the effect of touch. The use of touch is actually an attempt to control emotional health. I therefore ensured the patient was smiling with her eyes open, she does not appear distressed or upset, despite obvious physical abnormalities. In healthcare it is very easy to lose sight of the patients needs other than their need for physical health.

By only representing half of the face, I have left out an important part of the patient that should be considered. By leaving the drawing black and white, it is up to the viewer (the doctor) to consider how the real-life image would look. Finally I wanted to represent the danger of inappropriate touch, by leaving the background white, I have created a clinical scene with an absence of onlookers – showing how easy it is to over-step the line.

The ability to touch is an asset that should be used regularly but with careful consideration. Its affect goes far beyond my initial belief that it was a way to appear friendly and open.The meaning of touch is multilayered, it depends upon cultural, social and individual experiences and for this reason it is imperative that clinicians consider these influences before deciding on the level of touch that is appropriate in each consultation. In reality it can serve as a catalyst to developing the trust necessary for a productive doctor-patient relationship.