It was the slap seen ’round the world.
During a recent public appearance, French President Emmanuel Macron was caught on camera being swatted (lightly but unmistakably) by his wife Brigitte. The moment, though brief, spread like wildfire across social media. It was dissected, meme-ified, and analyzed to exhaustion. But beneath the viral sensation lay something deeper: a raw, unscripted example of nonverbal communication and interpersonal boundaries.
In case you didn’t yet see it:
French President Macron was slapped by his wife pic.twitter.com/58yV2gtGOF
— kira (@kirawontmiss) May 26, 2025
So what does this have to do with healthcare?
Plenty.
In medicine, where precision, hierarchy, and emotional control are prized, moments like these often happen in subtler ways. A withering glance in a team meeting. A raised eyebrow during rounds. A surgeon turning their back on a nurse’s comment. These aren’t headline-grabbing slaps, but they communicate volumes.
The Unspoken Language of Healthcare
Body language is the undercurrent of every clinical interaction. From the way a physician leans in during a consultation to how a patient crosses their arms in response, we are constantly communicating without saying a word. Research suggests that up to 93% of communication is nonverbal, with body language accounting for 55%, tone of voice 38%, and actual words only 7%.
In high-stakes environments like hospitals or clinics, these cues are often magnified. The attending who sighs as the intern speaks. The resident who doesn’t make eye contact with a nurse. The administrator who checks their phone while a physician voices concern. These gestures create ripples in team dynamics, patient trust, and even safety.
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The Power Dynamic at Play
In the Macron video, much of the discourse focused on power: Was Brigitte asserting dominance? Was Macron dismissing her, prompting the reaction? That same undercurrent exists in medicine. Healthcare is supposedly hierarchical by design – attendings over residents, surgeons over everyone else (or so the joke goes).
But when nonverbal signals undermine collaboration, they reinforce toxic dynamics. Dismissive gestures, passive-aggressive posture, and non-responsiveness can erode morale. In some cases, they can even impact patient care. A nurse who feels belittled may be less likely to speak up about a medication error. A resident who feels ignored might hesitate to question a risky decision.
Microaggressions: The Quiet Underminers
Body language also intersects with bias. Microaggressions often present nonverbally: a forced smile, a tone of sarcasm, a backhanded gesture. In healthcare, these can be particularly damaging when they occur along lines of race, gender, or professional role.
For instance, a female physician repeatedly mistaken for a nurse. A Black medical student whose suggestions are routinely ignored until repeated by someone else. These experiences, though small in isolation, accumulate over time—a death by a thousand gestures.
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Patients Notice, Too
Let’s not forget who else is watching: patients. When doctors fail to make eye contact, appear rushed, or physically close off their body language, patients perceive them as less empathetic. In one study published in the Journal of General Internal Medicine, patients rated physicians with open posture and consistent eye contact as more trustworthy and competent.
Even seemingly benign nonverbal behavior—like turning toward a computer screen while the patient speaks—can convey disinterest, even if unintentionally. In an era where patient satisfaction and shared decision-making matter more than ever, those cues can make or break trust.
So, What Can We Do?
We may not all be caught on camera like the Macrons, but our nonverbal language speaks just as loudly.
Awareness is the first step. Practicing mindfulness around body posture, facial expression, and tone, especially during stressful interactions, can change how we show up in our teams and with our patients.
Team leaders can set the tone by modeling open, inclusive communication. Simple actions like physically turning toward the person speaking, acknowledging input with a nod, or pausing before interrupting go a long way.
Institutions can go further by incorporating nonverbal communication training into curricula and professional development. Programs that focus on empathy, listening, and cultural sensitivity often emphasize verbal skills, but nonverbal literacy is equally essential.
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The Bigger Picture
The Macron moment went viral because it felt familiar. Not because we all get shoved by our spouses, but because we all know what that gesture meant. We’ve felt it. Given it. Been on the receiving end.
In medicine, we don’t need slaps to make a statement. Our bodies speak every day. The real question is: are we listening?
We may not all be caught on camera like the Macrons, but our nonverbal language speaks just as loudly.
