If the rising number of medical malpractice lawsuits and fatalities among patients caused by physician burnout is any indication, America is amidst a severe and ever-worsening epidemic of physician burnout. “My doctor seems a bit too emotionally and physically exhausted, stressed out and somewhat detached… What if he/she is burned out?” you may be thinking.
Physician burnout is a real thing, and being treated by a burned-out doctor could cost you your life. We invited our medical malpractice attorney Hawaii from Kurzban, Kurzban, Tetzeli and Pratt, P.A., is going to explain how burnout affects doctors and patient care, and what are the most obvious symptoms of physician burnout.
Is physician burnout really such a big deal?
Unfortunately, we tend to think about burnout as something distant or even non-existent. But what if your doctor is burned out? Have you ever thought about it? Burnout is very common among medical professionals in Hawaii and all across the United States. “Physician burnout is like a disease that causes the healthcare industry to rot from the inside out,” says our Hawaii medical malpractice attorney. And this is evident not only from the ever-increasing number of medical malpractice incidents caused by overworked, stressed out, fatigued and angry physicians, but also the number of suicides among doctors in the U.S.
Fact: Each year, about 400 American physicians and medical professionals commit suicide.
Two years ago, the Mayo Clinic published a study, in which it detailed the alarmingly increasing rate of physician burnout in the U.S. In its 2016 study, the Mayo Clinic surveyed nearly 7,000 physicians from across the country. The vast majority of them (nearly 55 percent) admitted to having at least one symptom of burnout at work, a nearly 10-percent spike from 2011 (45 percent).
A factor contributing to the epidemic of physician burnout could be the declining satisfaction with work-life balance among doctors, and that’s understandable considering that doctors are under a tremendous amount of pressure at work while earning less than a few years ago.
12 symptoms of physician burnout (does your doctor have any of those?)
But what are the symptoms of physician burnout? “If you notice any of the following symptoms during your visit to the doctor’s office, run for the hills,” advises our experienced medical malpractice attorney in Hawaii.
- Loss of enthusiasm for his/her work
- Decline in satisfaction and joy
- Detachment
- Emotional or physical exhaustion
- Fatigue
- Depression
- Anxiety
- Cynicism
- Dark circles under the eyes (from lack of sleep, which could be caused by insomnia)
- Forgetfulness
- Impaired concentration, attention, or memory
- Anger, irritability, and tension
If a doctor has any of the above-mentioned symptoms, he or she is more likely to a make medical error or commit medical malpractice. If you were hurt while receiving medical care and have a reason to believe that your doctor is burned out, do not hesitate to schedule a free consultation with our medical malpractice lawyers at Kurzban, Kurzban, Tetzeli and Pratt, P.A. Call at 808-736-5035 today.