It is awful to see that even after the first six months, there have been casualties. Not to present to an Emergency Department, but those for whom the anxiety of trying to cover such a vast range of information to reproduce in exams has been too much. It is unbelievable that we are taught less about the skills of being confident in ourselves, being with others, and even in some of the techniques we learn, and more about the scientific knowledge that later will inform our practice. Of course this is undeniably important but equally so to learn how to truly support oneself through such an arduous, demanding career path. Our current focus – each medical student I meet – is not people, but exams. Ultimately we don’t practice medical exams. They may be the necessary hoops to jump through, but we eventually will be practicing medicine ‘on’ people. It is people who will come to us with their health complaints and ask us to offer them all that we know and more in order to help them. If medical students are not taught now to be with people, to be naturally confident, open, compassionate and truly, deeply caring, then the culture you have describe above has little chance of changing.

Here here Gill.

That is so true Kevin, Gayle. I have just started my first year of medical training this year and was astounded at the approach – right from Day 1. It was very unfortunate to have sponsors there before the official proceeding began, offering students free bags, drink-bottles, etc etc just to sign up with them. Funnily enough, these sponsors by and large were medical indemnity insurance companies, which is so very ironic.

But to the matter at hand, I would love to introduce this to my colleagues. I find it very interesting that much of ethical conduct is brushed over, yet forms the fundamental basis of how it is we will be not only with each other, but our patients and all else otherwise. I am interesting in developing much to offer colleagues in medical school – from assessing their current state of overwhelm, to learning to connect with how they are feeling through the process of each day – be it as we learn the sciences and examination techniques, or beyond into the clinical years of hospital rotations and eventual practice.

I like your suggestion, Kevin………..get this article listed as required reading, followed by discussion, for first year medical students. Then review it as they start their second year of training. Perhaps a self assessment of how they are doing on a self-care scale of 1 to 10 for the remaining years in medical school.

I think it is he bullying that I hadn’t fully grasped and I can not imagine what it is like to have that amount of sustained pressure for all of those years and beyond.

I encourage anyone who is placed to start deconstructing this system and replace it with humanity – to please do so.