In the United States, 400 physicians commit suicide annually
– an average of one per day. Physicians
have the highest rate of suicide of any profession; almost double that of the
general population. While physician
suicide has reached epidemic proportions, the general public is relatively
unaware of this tragic phenomenon. Robyn
Simon has produced a documentary film, Do No Harm, to shed light on this taboo
topic. Common Spirit Health/Dignity
Health/CHI/Fransciscan Hospital (formerly known as Harrison Memorial) is
sponsoring a free screening of this movie in Kitsap County, scheduled for
Friday March 22, 2019 at 6:00pm in the Bremerton High School Auditorium.
“Do No Harm” chronicles the journey of two families –
the Dietls and Mechams – which share common insurmountable challenges during medical
training. John and Michele Dietl lost
their son Kevin to suicide 3 months before his graduation from medical school. Feeling hopeless during his fourth year of
residency, Hawkins Mecham, DO, tried to take his own life.
Dr Mecham reached out to Dr. Pamela Wible, a friend
and colleague who has focused her efforts on preventing physician suicide. Dr. Wible connected Mecham with the
Dietls. John and Michelle were able to
ask Mecham the questions that they could not ask their son and by sharing their
story with Hawkins, he had more insight into those who are left behind after
suicide.
I was twelve years old when the first physician I knew
in Kitsap County committed suicide. He was a colleague of my father’s in a
local multispecialty physician group. As
a young girl, I went on occasional playdates with his children and attended
birthday parties in their home. My father always described him as intelligent
and kind. At that age, I could not
fathom the wear and tear this career has on the souls of all physicians.
Physicians who die by suicide are struggling healers;
they are mothers, fathers, sons, daughters, husbands, wives, colleagues,
neighbors and friends. As a community,
we must embrace those who are struggling and erase the stigma associated with
depression, anxiety and suicidality. Physicians are reticent to share their personal
and professional struggles with others out of fear from being labeled as being
weak. This silence helps no one.
Like my esteemed colleagues, I have often felt
overwhelmed by this challenging career, more so after the loss of my father and
business partner eighteen months ago. The
heartfelt and valuable advice shared nearly twenty-five years ago by a local
gastroenterologist – Dr. Pankaj Sharma – has helped me cope through it all.
During my junior year in college, Dr. Sharma evaluated
me for nonspecific abdominal pain with an upper endoscopy, a procedure where a
thin scope with a light and camera at the tip is used to look inside the upper
digestive tract, including the esophagus, stomach, and first part of the small
intestine, known as the duodenum. His
evaluation yielded little in the way of a definitive medical condition.
At my follow up appointment, a stack of Medical
College Admission Test (MCAT) study books accompanied me, because I did not
want to lose a moment preparing for this exam.
Dr. Sharma quickly realized my problem was more stress-related and shared
some guidance: “The challenges you will face as a physician will be
overwhelming. You must find a way now to
accept the crushing demands medicine places upon us. If you cannot, you will never
survive a career as a doctor.”
At nineteen, I did not fully grasp the significance of
his words but after nearly two decades in this field, I know all-too-well how
right Dr. Sharma was. Medicine is a science grounded in uncertainty; it is the
weight of facing this ambiguity every day that exacts such a heavy toll. When physicians cannot cope with such doubt,
it can manifest as depression, anxiety, alcoholism, or even, suicide.
The “Dr. Sharma talk” still resonates today. Despite giving patients our best, sometimes the
negative outcomes are beyond our control. Physicians must be careful not to lose
themselves while helping others. Failure is a part of medicine because it is an
inevitable part of life. Grieving, when necessary, is important; every
physician is, first and foremost, a human being.
Our nations healers --nurses, doctors and all of those
working in healthcare -- are suffering, they need our support, appreciation,
gratitude, and forgiveness. Please know
that when tucking our own children in at night, we are often thinking – and
even dreaming – of yours. Please join
the community for a screening of this courageous film: Do No Harm. Thank you to Common Spirit Health
Hospital for bringing this film and filmmaker Robyn Simon to Kitsap County.
And I wish to thank Dr. Pankaj Sharma personally, for being
the voice in my head whenever I struggle with the demands of a medical
career. I have followed your advice by
exercising every day, enjoying close relationships with my patients, and writing
openly about my frustrations working in a healthcare system that no longer
makes sense. Please know your work has
made a world of difference.
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