The emancipatory theory of compassion was created by Dr Jane Georges, it assumes the universality of suffering and the means by which suffering can be alleviated through compassion. Emancipatory is used to emphasize the centrality power relations have on suffering, and the ability to render compassion impossible. The emancipatory theory define compassion as the wish that all others be free of suffering or sympathetic consciousness of others’ distress with a desire to alleviate it. In the context of nursing, this theory assumes that nurses can consciously or unconsciously create environments in which suffering is perpetuated.

In her theory, George indicates that suffering is unavoidable and is an essential human experience. This theory has therefore been very fundamental in addressing suffering not only in the context of patient and nurse suffering, but it also goes beyond the patient-nurse relationship and contextualizes suffering and compassion of communities and populations. Suffering and compassion take into account broader social issues and can be physical, psych emotional, socioeconomic, or biopolitical.

The emancipatory theory of compassion in collaboration with other caring theories, aided the development of an operationalized model which nurses may frame inquiry and practice focused on compassion and the alleviation of suffering. Also, the model aids nurses to alleviate suffering through the deconstruction of power relations, and the promotion of health equity, social justice, and human rights. The theory posits that nursing has to seek ways to decrease suffering, share power, increase compassion, speak the unspeakable, teach moral imagination, and enhance voice.

Emancipatory is used to emphasize the centrality power relations have on suffering, and the ability to render compassion impossible. On the other hand, compassion is defined as the wish that all others be free of suffering or sympathetic consciousness of others’ distress with a desire to alleviate it.