Recently, a New Jersey doctor who had worked for AtlantiCare had his medical license reinstated – with significant restrictions. His license was suspended last year due to a number of errors he made when he panicked during surgeries, including C-sections, and other procedures. The doctor had over two dozen “incident reports, safety events, and patient complaints” and is still facing two lawsuits. The OB/GYN is no longer allowed to perform surgical procedures or deliver babies.
Most people think of doctors as self-confident (sometimes overly so) and calm. The latter is particularly important when they’re dealing with emergencies and other life-or-death situations. However, increasingly, doctors are speaking openly about their battles with anxiety disorders and seeking the help they need.
Why medical professionals have a higher-than-average rate of anxiety disorders
Nearly 20% of all adults in the U.S. are believed to have an anxiety disorder. Doctors aren’t exempt from that. In fact, one study found that 31% of doctors and over 53% of nurses suffer from them. People who already have issues with anxiety can find that it gets worse with the pressure of medical school and residency.
While there have been studies on physician burnout for years, the connection between burnout and anxiety disorders (and even panic attacks) is increasingly being recognized. Repeated panic attacks can damage a doctor’s self-confidence to the point where they can’t perform their job. Researchers also point to family history as well as individual triggers when dealing with a particular patient or emergency.
Getting mental health care can make all the difference
The stigma of any mental health disorder still keeps many people from telling anyone about their own struggles and getting the help they need. This can be especially true for doctors and other medical professionals who may fear it will cost them their jobs – or at least lessen the respect that their peers and their patients have for them.
Getting treatment for anxiety disorder has made a difference for many doctors. In some cases. This can involve therapy, medication and learning coping skills. In some cases, they find that they do better in a different field of medicine.
There’s no doubt that crippling anxiety and panic attacks in doctors can cause serious harm and worse to patients – even by doctors who may have previously unblemished records. Patients must explore their legal options for justice and compensation after suffering unnecessary harm.