Thread: Behind the white coat & stethoscope we are just humans. I can’t explain the emotional load that comes from being the final say on orders that determine life or death for another person. Top that with the threat of your own life & it’s too much
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Nearly 300 #physicians commit #suicide each year. 300. It happens without mention from media and patients alike. I fear what this number will be following #COVID19. Each one a person who dedicated their entire 20’s, a full decade, to learn how to keep others alive. (2/5)
Sacrificing holidays, delay starting family, 80-100hr/week as a standard work week. No such thing as shift work. You stay until the work is done. Until your patient is stable. Finish notes at home. 24 ICU patients, ED completely full & they are all yours. All depending on you. -3
This heaviness is not spoken of. No other humans are required to work under these conditions daily. Lack of sleep. Constant views of death/dying. No relief. The mention of decreasing work hours to even 60hrs/week is unheard of... that’s part-time. And we lose beautiful people. -4
Her name was Dr. Lorna Breen. A woman who saved countless lives, millions more saved through her dedication to train the next generation of emergency medicine doctors. To her family and friends, I send prayers. But prayers are not enough. We, as a medical community, must fix this
