“Shamed Into Silence” — The Hidden Cost of Clinical Teaching
“You don’t know that?”
“How are you even in med school?”
[Laughter from the team. You shrink. You nod. You stay silent.]
Every med student knows that moment. The burn of being called out. The flush of shame when learning turns into humiliation.
But what happens after the moment passes?
Shame-Based Feedback Isn’t Just Harsh — It’s Harmful
Clinical teaching that relies on shame doesn’t build resilience.
It builds: Fear-based learning Silence instead of curiosity Checklists instead of judgment Burnout, doubt, and detachment
Students stop asking.
They stop thinking out loud.
They play it safe.
And worst of all — some start to believe they’re not good enough.
Shame ≠ Tough Love
Shame teaches students:
To hide mistakes, not learn from them That vulnerability is weakness That medicine rewards silence over honesty
And then…
They may pass it on.
The cycle repeats.
We Can Break the Loop Teach with accountability and respect Correct with clarity, not cruelty Build clinical courage, not clinical fear Give feedback that lifts, not labels
If you’ve felt shamed while learning — you’re not weak. You’re not alone. And you’re not wrong to speak up.
Medicine needs brave learners, not broken ones.
This is an educational awareness message. Not a substitute for clinical or institutional mental health or teaching policy.
Best post of the day..!! We can always focus on questioning the unknown and logically analyzing the things when needed. Many of the students face this during their school and even in med school the chain keeps on going.
This is a powerful and well-written piece, Bhavini. It effectively highlights a deeply relevant issue in medical education—the harm of shame-based teaching
Nicely explained.
Shame is only weapon which kills soul of his owner.
Binding one self to the idea of what others will think only stops you from becoming something big, something as special as you.
This is a very real problem in our educational institutions. A good teacher must seek to educate with kindness not belittling, respect and dignity goes both ways.
“Shamed Into Silence” — The Hidden Cost of Clinical Teaching
Shame-Based Feedback Isn’t Just Harsh — It’s Harmful
Fear-based learning
Silence instead of curiosity
Checklists instead of judgment
Burnout, doubt, and detachment
Shame ≠ Tough Love
We Can Break the Loop
Teach with accountability and respect
If you’ve felt shamed while learning — you’re not weak. You’re not alone. And you’re not wrong to speak up.
Medicine needs brave learners, not broken ones.
, don’t feel ashamed and speak up to learn from your mistakes.