The Doctor's Health

The Doctor’s Health

·        Stress = Marked discrepancy between perceived demands and perceived ability to respond

·        Burnout = set of symptoms leading to a debilitating psychological condition usually associated with:

o  Chronic stress

o  Emotional exhaustion

o  Depersonalisation

o  Reduced personal accomplishment

o  Development of negative and callous attitudes about the people one works with

o  Negative self worth

o  Result of a prolonged period of trying to cope with demanding stressors 

·        Medical Practitioners Act: Must notify the Medical Council if you consider a colleague‟s health is affecting his or her competence 

·        Doctor is unfit to practice if: unable to make safe judgements, demonstrate reasonable skill, behaves inappropriately, risks infecting patients, etc 

·        Medicine has many stresses: business demands, patient expectations, difficult patients, mistakes, rosters ® tiredness, litigation, ¯time for family 

·        On population estimates, there should be 200 – 300 medical practitioners who are alcoholic – only about 50 are being treated 

·        There are many barriers to seeking help: admitting to illness, financial consequences, not wanting to be seen as inadequate, isolation

·        Prevention is key: good health habits (especially in hard times), avoid self-treatment – have your own GP, formal and informal peer support, develop interests outside medicine, seek help early

·        Resources to help:

o   Doctor‟s Health Advisory Service (DHAS): partly funded by the medical council

o   In Sickness and In Health: a handbook for medical practitioners