Many years ago, I experienced a difficulty pregnancy that ended in a successful birth. My obstetrician was amazing, and one of the things I appreciated most about her - besides her medical wisdom and skill, of course - was her ability to share my emotions, both positive and negative. Her empathy meant the world to me at a very frightening time. That being said, she definitely leaned toward the positive and acknowledged my fears without being overcome by them herself. I very much appreciated that tip toward the positive on her part because it helped me to stay strong and focused. I also appreciated her willingness to recognize that what I was going through was scary and difficult, but I think that a doctor sobbing in the face of my loss or my fear would be very unsettling. It was entirely appropriate for Lark's supervisor to steer her in another direction, both for Lark's own sake and for her patients' sakes. There's a point at which a person's empathy for another, a beautiful thing in its own right, can slide into being overcome by one's own emotions and losing track of the other person's needs. In a medical relationship, the patient and the patient's family are relying on the doctor to be steady, and the doctor has to be able to be able to give the patient what they need without being sidetracked by their personal feelings.