As an MD that has been pushing hard against the #toxic culture of #medicine; this piece by my colleague, Dr. Paul Fedak (@LibinInstitute; @UCalgaryMed), both breaks my ❤️ & makes my blood boil.
Bear w/me while I explain 🧵 1/11
CW: Suicide
Bear w/me while I explain 🧵 1/11
CW: Suicide
https://twitter.com/globeandmail/status/1969359925051867370
Why the heartbreak?
Dr. Fedak lays bare in his story- the disturbing truth about #medicine- that he and MANY others saught out this profession b/c of prior trauma.
We thought the benevolent, distinguished role as "healer" would fix us. This was me, completely. 2/11
Dr. Fedak lays bare in his story- the disturbing truth about #medicine- that he and MANY others saught out this profession b/c of prior trauma.
We thought the benevolent, distinguished role as "healer" would fix us. This was me, completely. 2/11
Conflating success w/ happiness, invisibly broken & desperately ambitious we jump the ridiculous (not to mention expensive) hoops of admission, clerkship, residency, to achieve our goals.
And medicine takes complete advantage of those that are addicted to validation. 3/11
And medicine takes complete advantage of those that are addicted to validation. 3/11
I have lost 4 colleagues to suicide in the past 6 years. FOUR.
I have tweeted previously about planning my own suicide, TWICE.
Canadian data suggest that 1 in 5 MDs will contemplate taking their own life.
YET WE DO NOTHING but share hotlines & crisis support. 4/11
I have tweeted previously about planning my own suicide, TWICE.
Canadian data suggest that 1 in 5 MDs will contemplate taking their own life.
YET WE DO NOTHING but share hotlines & crisis support. 4/11
Personally, I have done a lot of work.
I don't look to medicine to fix me.
I try to see the warning signs in colleagues.
I became a leader to try to shift culture where I can but my sphere of influence is small & being different in my ways makes me a target of criticism. 5/11
I don't look to medicine to fix me.
I try to see the warning signs in colleagues.
I became a leader to try to shift culture where I can but my sphere of influence is small & being different in my ways makes me a target of criticism. 5/11
Where my blood boils & Dr. Fedak said it perfectly- "what intoxicates us becomes toxic".
The data on the distress of MDs, the exploitative professional culture & the disregard for #psychologicalsafety in #healthcare is clear but the evidence is ignored & change is discouraged. 6/
The data on the distress of MDs, the exploitative professional culture & the disregard for #psychologicalsafety in #healthcare is clear but the evidence is ignored & change is discouraged. 6/
It's ignored b/c having an emotionally indentured workforce serves the #medicine & the #academy.
The need to be singular & renowned is inherently narcissistic but also a common feature of the emotionally injured.
But what evs, famous, winning faculty works for fund raising. 7/11
The need to be singular & renowned is inherently narcissistic but also a common feature of the emotionally injured.
But what evs, famous, winning faculty works for fund raising. 7/11
Creating psychologically safe environments would mean we'd need to rethink the entire training & staffing model (where students pay $15K/yr during clerkship to provide clinical service in hospitals & requires complete compliance of learners to gain future opportunities). 8/11
And the thing that pisses me off the most- this is a CHOICE.
We are an innovative, intelligent community that has improved the quality of life & longevity of patients, but we let each other suffer & die in silence and shame.
Harmful systems & toxic cultures are upheld. 9/11
We are an innovative, intelligent community that has improved the quality of life & longevity of patients, but we let each other suffer & die in silence and shame.
Harmful systems & toxic cultures are upheld. 9/11
As per Dr. Fedak, we call our dedication "professionalism"; those who set boundaries are "selfish"; those who speak of thier challenges "troubled".
This is so wrong.
MDs being OK is crucial for system safety & function. But shame & internalized stigma holds us back. 10/11
This is so wrong.
MDs being OK is crucial for system safety & function. But shame & internalized stigma holds us back. 10/11
Two weeks ago, an email announced a colleague died. No name, no context, just links to crisis resources.
The silence continues & losses mount.
No changes tho. We celebrate the winners, exploit the vulnerable & don't make waves.
We share more trauma, shame & crisis links.
11/11
The silence continues & losses mount.
No changes tho. We celebrate the winners, exploit the vulnerable & don't make waves.
We share more trauma, shame & crisis links.
11/11
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