It is no secret that medical professionals in our country are under extreme pressure. Burnout is often described as physical and emotional exhaustion and feeling a sense of reduced accomplishment or performance related to job stress and has a harmful impact on our medical professionals.
The Hippocratic Oath is an oath of ethics historically taken by physicians. In its essence it provides for physicians to abide by specific ethical standards and to administer care to patients to the best of their ability. It also includes the principles of medical confidentiality and non-maleficence. Till today these principles continue to guide and inform medical practice and are enshrined in the legal statutes of various jurisdictions, such that violations of the oath may carry criminal or other liability beyond the oath’s symbolic nature.
As much as the principle of “do no harm” is applicable to medical practitioners in the course and scope of their duties, it is prudent to note that the wellbeing of these practitioners is also of paramount importance in establishing and maintaining a well-functioning healthcare system, efficient treatment to patients and longevity in the profession.
Today there are several challenges being faced by healthcare workers that hamper their ability to perform at an adequate level and which result in personal and professional stresses. The fear of being sued when operating on a patient. Good outcomes are not guaranteed, doctors can only do their best but cannot predict what the result will be. With any medical intervention by a doctor or surgeon even in the best of hands and with the most diligent of care, there will always be a risk: Any patient can complicate at any time. No matter what they do.
Our medical professionals need to be at their best to perform at their best in offering their medical services to the public. Our underdeveloped healthcare systems, long hours of work, inadequate medical equipment, inadequate staff compliment due to high patient load, unhygienic work environment are all but a few of the factors which impact our medical professionals and the services they can offer or lack thereof.
Furthermore, factors contributing to the high suicide rate within the medical community are well established. Among them are immense, high-pressure workloads, bullying and harassment within a rigidly hierarchical work culture, sleep deprivation, poor support structures and limited resources for employees veering towards burnout. The COVID-19 pandemic also exacerbated the stresses on an already overwhelmed and underfunded healthcare system.
In canvassing some of the trends noted globally in the medical profession, mental health has become a significant issue. Depression and anxiety stemming from lack of support, no access to counselling or therapists and dealing with death daily culminates in a negative work experience. Family life suffers and resultantly the emotional wellbeing of the healthcare practitioner. The nature of the industry is such that a doctor makes many sacrifices in the pursuit of attaining excellence in their career and tending to those under their care, at times to their own personal detriment.
Our medical professionals are faced with the fear of been ridiculed for being weak, incapable, and unprofessional, a factor which deters many of them from seeking help. Emotional exhaustion also tends to affect the inter-personal relations of many healthcare professionals with fellow colleagues, partners, and children. Feelings of hopelessness, fatigue, unappreciated and constantly being overwhelmed plagues these professionals.
Because of a shortage of medical professionals, they are expected to work overtime leading to physical and emotional exhaustion. There is thus a lack of a healthy work-life balance. There needs to be realistic expectations for doctors to operate on a human level.
We all need to do our part to provide an environment conducive to harnessing their well-being to enable them to in turn offer the best care for their patients. In order for insurers to show their support towards the plight for the prevention and management of burnout and suicide amongst our medical professionals, companies could put initiatives forward which may involve relaxation packs (a motivational book, scented candles, bubble bath/soak), access to an 24 hour counselling careline for psychological (emotional) support, offering an “on-the-go” express massage treatment, a monthly yoga class etc. will go a long way as part of a care campaign. Retaining and encouraging competent medical professionals should be our main aim and ensuring that our healthcare professionals feel appreciated may ultimately also lead to better patient care and invoke feelings of self-accomplishment and resilience.
