When was it that we stopped respecting ourselves and our profession? When did we decide that quietly smoldering or complaining to one another is better than standing up as a single entity for what we know is right? How did we allow misconceptions and distrust of physicians to grow? For outside forces to dictate what is best for our patients and take away our will to genuinely care and want to practice medicine? How did we allow our profession to become so tainted?
A group of organizations behind the veils of their suits and desks created more and more rules for us to abide by to continue to practice. Instead of offering our patients honesty we fear offending them to avoid a backlash in patient satisfaction scores. Instead of time with our patients we spend time shuffling through paperwork to avoid repercussions. When did we allow our fear to dictate our right to practice good and safe medicine?
Even when the best intentions for patient care are present, we live in constant fear of litigation. The most caring and intelligent physicians fear losing their homes, jobs and livelihoods every day. When did we allow our lack of legal protection get so out of control?
A small group of anti-vaccine individuals gained media attention, enabling them to swirl debate and further their following. When children with measles showed up in our emergency departments and pediatricians offices we were angry, pointed fingers but cared for these children despite the acts of their parents, as we vowed to care for all our patients. Why weren’t we louder than they were from the beginning, drowning their propaganda with our facts?
Rules have made it near impossible for some of us to claim our basic workplace rights to eat food, drink water or even get a break during our time in the hospital. When did we lose our basic workplace rights?
In just a few years, it has become unbearably expensive to pursue an education in medicine. Young and naive individuals who seek a life of caring for others, throwing themselves into enormous amounts of debt to achieve their dream. They sacrifice their financial health for the physical health of others. Where is our anger for our future colleagues?
New mothers struggle to get maternity leave, while other countries offer paid maternity leave. Many cannot find the time to pump breast milk for the babies or while at work and sacrifice this motherly duty for the sake of their workplace responsibilities. Where has been the voice for the rights of physician mothers?
Safety at our health care facilities fails to gain importance despite disturbing events in recent times. Emergency department staff subject themselves to verbal and physical threats. A physician gets murdered by a disgruntled patient, and the tragedy is lost in a sea of celebrity news. Where is our uproar, demanding the right to be safe at our jobs?
We have allowed society decide that we are not trustworthy, greedy and uncaring. Where is our truth, exposing that today’s doctor does not pursue this career for money or fame but for the nobility of the job?
We have allowed ourselves to be unhappy in medicine. We have allowed everyone’s voice to be louder than ours. Enough is enough. While we have a few loud voices, there are thousands of physicians within the United States — we need to collectively be a thundering boom. It’s time for physicians to stand up and finally speak to be heard.
Meeta Shah is an emergency physician.
Image credit: Shutterstock.com
