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OpinionHealth

This article is more than 7 years old

The proudest day of Grace’s life was graduating as a doctor. Then she began treating patients

This article is more than 7 years old

Healing alone: the story of a first-year doctor and a widower in hospital

Isabel Hanson and Safdar Ahmed
Tue 15 Jan 2019 02.18 GMTLast modified on Wed 10 Feb 2021 04.23 GMT

Share

305

305

References and Further Reading:

1 Brancati F. The Art of Pimping. JAMA. 1989;262(1):89–90.

2 Scott K, Caldwell P, Barnes E, Barrett J. “Teaching by Humiliation” and mistreatment of medical students in clinical rotations: a pilot study. Med J Aust. 2015; 203 (4): 185.

3 The National Academies of Science, Engineering and Medicine. Sexual Harassment of Women: Climate, Culture, and Consequences in Academic Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine. 2018 [cited 2018 16 Nov 18]. Available from: http://nap.edu/24994

4 Rodriguez-Paz JM, Kennedy M, Salas E, et al Beyond “see one, do one, teach one”: toward a different training paradigm. BMJ Quality & Safety 2009;18:63–68.

5 Neumann M, Edelhäuser F, Tauschel D, Fischer M, Wirtz M, Woopen C, et al. Empathy Decline and Its Reasons: A Systematic Review of Studies With Medical Students and Residents. Acad Med. 2011;86(8):996–1009.

6 Beyond Blue. National Mental Health Survey of Doctors and Medical Students. 2013 [cited 2018 16 Nov 18]. Available from: https://www.beyondblue.org.au/docs/default-source/research-project-files/bl1132-report---nmhdmss-full-report_web

This project received funding from the Harold and Gwenneth Harris Endowment for Medical Humanities, Harris Fellowship 2017, reference HF-2017–6.

The views expressed in the comic are our own and are not representative of Royal Price Alfred Hospital or the RPAH Resident Medical Officers Association.

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Comments (305)
This discussion is now closed for comments but you can still sign in or create your Guardian account to join the discussion next time

Comments (305)
This discussion is now closed for comments but you can still sign in or create your Guardian account to join the discussion next time

Guardian Pick

Very well done. I have experienced and witnessed everything in this article. The power structure is frightening and debilitating. When doctors are themselves being belittled and bullied, it becomes easy for them to belittle and bully nursing staff. The cycle is repetitive and endless.

In the two most vital “caring” professions within our society, there is so little actual caring that the situation can lead to suicidal depression for al…

Jump to comment

Oudtshoorn15 Jan 2019 6.58

86

Guardian Pick

Thirty years ago much of this stress on the wards was handed over to social workers. When somebody died or a patient was angry, aggressive or unhappy, I would get a call on the blower and had to deal with the situation. To contact family or friends, to relieve anxiety about operations or diagnosis, all these things were done by social workers.

But the medical profession saw social workers as superfluous. Senior doctors waged a war again…

Jump to comment

verityseeker16 Jan 2019 0.08

19

Guardian Pick

Very well done. I have experienced and witnessed everything in this article. The power structure is frightening and debilitating. When doctors are themselves being belittled and bullied, it becomes easy for them to belittle and bully nursing staff. The cycle is repetitive and endless.

In the two most vital “caring” professions within our society, there is so little actual caring that the situation can lead to suicidal depression for al…

Jump to comment

Oudtshoorn15 Jan 2019 6.58

86

Guardian Pick

Thirty years ago much of this stress on the wards was handed over to social workers. When somebody died or a patient was angry, aggressive or unhappy, I would get a call on the blower and had to deal with the situation. To contact family or friends, to relieve anxiety about operations or diagnosis, all these things were done by social workers.

But the medical profession saw social workers as superfluous. Senior doctors waged a war again…

Jump to comment

verityseeker16 Jan 2019 0.08

19

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