Physicians Anonymous

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Month: April 2024

Solving medicine’s moral injury

2024-04-22

There is clearly no quick fix to the underlying causes of moral injury in healthcare. This is not a war where a ceasefire can be declared.

So, how do we try to move from the collective moral injury experience of physicians to a systematic change in the structure of medical practice?

Physicians on the front lines of health care today are sometimes described as going to battle. It’s an apt metaphor. Physicians, like combat soldiers, often face a profound and unrecognized threat to their well-being: moral injury. Moral injury is frequently mischaracterized. In combat veterans it is diagnosed as post-traumatic stress; among physicians it’s portrayed as burnout. But without understanding the critical difference between burnout and moral injury, the wounds will never heal and physicians and patients alike will continue to suffer the consequences.

Physician moral injury – not burnout

2024-04-15

“Front-line”, “battle”, “the trenches”. These terms are all too familiar when talking about modern medicine. Why are we referencing war when we should be talking about healing?

Nearly 300 physicians die by suicide annually. This post discusses physician suicide and risk factors, and may be triggering.

Physician suicide – let’s talk about it

2024-04-08

We need to talk about physician suicide. Nearly 300 physicians die by suicide every year. National tragedy does not begin to describe it. The agony experienced not just by the victims but their loved ones, colleagues, and patients doesn’t bear thinking about.