Taking action The Lorna Breen Act: Why mental health matters In a time where the risk of suicide is two times higher for physicians than the general population, physician advocacy has helped create concrete change via the Lorna Breen Act. March 1, 2022TuesdayMarch 2022 issue Advocacy Aerial Petty, DO Aerial Petty, DO, is a family medicine resident. Contact Dr. Petty
Breaking DOwn barriers through advocacy Some pathology residency programs were requiring minimum COMLEX-USA scores with percentiles dramatically higher than those for USMLE. That has changed, thanks to intervention and advocacy.
Preventing targeted gun violence in our schools For years, stories of gun violence in schools have dominated the headlines. MSUCOM seeks to address and put an end to this brutality.
This article is coincident with another article arriving in my inbox this morning, in, of all places, the GoodRx Newsletter. The article is on “moral injury” – which is distinct from PTSD. The article states: Moral injury refers to the aftermath of engaging in, witnessing, or failing to act in a situation that conflicts with deeply held moral beliefs. People suffering from moral injury may feel lasting “guilt, shame, disgust, and anger” as a result of exposure to traumatic incidents. Individuals who feel betrayed by those they have trusted can also experience moral injury. Similarly, those who must make difficult decisions regarding others’ survival can also experience moral injury. People suffering from moral injury often find it difficult to forgive themselves. They may feel persistent anger as a result of the betrayals they have experienced. Moral injury is different from PTSD. Judging from my own experiences in medical school and in practice, moral injury is potentially a significant cause of depression and suicide among physicians. Especially as students and in post-graduate training we experience ineptness, incompetence, and betrayals that we are impotent to do anything about. And while that may drive many of us to become the best physicians we can become, these acts can leave lasting anger, bitterness, and sadness. There are few resources available for medical professionals, especially outside of major metropolitan areas. Mar. 17, 2022, at 7:44 am Reply
This may seem unnecessarily contrarian, but I would just as soon not have hospital administrators empowered by Federal mandate overseeing physician mental health. Get ready for the required evaluations, extra CME, and mandatory enslavement linked to your privileges. We’re from the government, and we’re here to help. Mar. 17, 2022, at 8:18 pm Reply