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
Students and health policy: The importance of getting involved and where to start Osteopathic medical students have a variety of opportunities available to them when it comes to participating in and influencing the health care policies that will directly impact their future patients.
AOA responds to ‘The View’ regarding misleading comments “Comments implying that DOs are not medical doctors could not be further from the truth,” reads the AOA response to producers of the show.
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