When a doctor is exhausted, it presents a higher possibility for medical malpractice or mistakes made out of neglect. Doctor burnout is more common than you might think. In fact, according to the Mayo Clinic, 45.8 percent of all doctors have experienced at least one symptom of burnout. 37.9 percent of doctors report that they are emotionally exhausted, and 29.4 percent say that they have high depersonalization. This means that they feel like their real life is a bit like a dream and they watch themselves go through the daily actions without much feeling. Often doctors that struggle with depersonalization have less of a connection with their patients, and may fail to look out for their needs.
Doctors are more susceptible to burnout then many other workers. On the whole, 27.8 of all working adults claim that they are burnt out. Yet 37.9 percent of all doctors make the same claim. Doctors say that their work-life balance is often more unsatisfactory than other working adults. The physicians who have an M.D. or a D.O. are more likely to be stressed and overworked than those who don’t. Specifically, The Huffington Post writes that doctors who work in dermatology, pathology, preventative medicine and pediatrics have a lower burnout rate. Those who work in neurology, family medicine, emergency medicine or general internal medicine were those who had the highest tendency to be stressed.
The American Academy of Orthopedic Surgeons says that about 87 percent of all doctors experience some level of stress or burnout on a daily basis. The University Of Rochester Medical Center suggests that stressed doctors attend mindfulness meditation classes to help get their mind off of work.
If you were injured by a burnt out doctor who neglected you, misdiagnosed you, or failed to perform a procedure correctly; then talk to a personal injury lawyer at the Lanier Law Group, P.A. to seek damages for medical malpractice.