Compassion In Survival In Auschwitz By Primo Levi

Primo Levi’s, Survival in Auschwitz, follows Primo Levi’s journey during the Holocaust. Despite the harsh conditions and unjust treatment, he was still able to hold on to his values during the most difficult time in his life. While helping people along the way, who later becomes his friends and share his journey, he used his compassion and humanity to survive this challenging time. Similarly in health care field, health care professionals used compassion and their humanity in everything they do. From patient contact to making moral decisions, these two themes are a great part in the everyday world of health care.
Compassion is a feeling of deep sympathy and sorrow for the sufferings or misfortunes of others. The theme of compassion is involved both in healthcare and in Survival in Auschwitz by Primo Levi. Primo shares and receives compassion with his group of fellow prisoners who look after one another, trade and share their resources. The very first person who shows him compassion is Lorenzo. Even though he could get in trouble for giving Primo the extra soup and bread, he still shows him compassion. Even though it was illegal, he got nothing in return, and he could’ve gotten caught and punished, he still took the risk. Primo says Lorenzo’s “humanity was pure and uncontaminated” and because of his act of kindness he “managed not to forget that (he himself) was a man”. Because of Lorenzo’s
Despite the many challenges in life, people in the health care field and Primo Levi use and savor compassion and humanity in the their lives. The acknowledgement of humanity needed by self-compassion also allows us to be more understanding and appreciative of different situations and different people. As displayed in Survival of Auschwitz and in the health care setting compassion and humanity are two major aspects that can help other people and themselves with different