Recently a doc told me he got promoted to chief of pediatrics. “I’ve achieved all my goals.” He paused. “Only thing left is to donate my organs.”
I run a suicide helpline. I’ve heard these words before.
Even in death, the selfless physician strives to save lives.
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Most docs are unaware they waive their HIPAA rights when acquiring a medical license.
The right to practice medicine is a privilege. Each state regulates medical practice by state statute, often called their medical practice act. Most docs have never heard of nor read their state’s medical practice act.
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By Bob Peters, M.D.
Few surgeries are filmed. All are stored in our bodies as lived experiences.
Wouldn’t it be great if we could erase certain memories? Ones we most wish to forget may impact us
forever—our traumatic cases. Our saddest moments pop into our consciousness and seem to never
leave.
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In 2023, I lost two dear physician friends. To overzealous DEA agents.
Michelle, a stellar emergency physician with well-treated depression/ADHD for 20 years couldn’t find anyone to continue her meds when her doc retired. Depressed, she shot herself Christmas Day.
Randy could have saved Michelle.
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Ripple effect of ONE doctor suicide. How many people are left behind . . .
Two weeks before her son was born, my physician friend’s obstetrician killed himself. Left behind his wife, three kids, and my friend.
Eighteen years later,
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People imitate people.
More than 1,600 people have died by suicide by jumping off the Golden Gate Bridge. Harold Wobber was the first known suicide—1599+ people copied him.
Cassie Bond of Spokane, Washington (copying Paige Hunter of UK) is preventing suicides from a bridge in her town.
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I lost several physicians to suicide amid medical liability cases (even frivolous ones!). Doctors are human and we can make mistakes that are not intentional. Sadly, physicians (and patients) are harmed by the current legal model. We can and should do better. I’m working on an innovative new way to handle medical mistakes outside of the legal system.
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He used to be a plastic surgeon. He used to be rich and famous. He was in San Diego and got turned over to the medical board. He could have killed himself. But you know what he did instead? He decided to make a bucket list of 100 things that he wanted to do before he died.
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Sign petition to stop PHP abuse
In a state where marijuana is fully legal, a doctor uses marijuana tincture 3 times per month in evenings after work around time of her menses. She was working part time at a hospital. Was asked by hospital to work full time.
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If your dream is to end doctor suicides—you are in the right place!
Retreat highlights & suicide loss survivors by physician specialty:
View 10-week free training highlight reels
Doc Suicide Dream Team launched 5/19/24.
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Doctor Suicide Dream Team (1 pm PT) ~ Intimate group of physicians sharing our suicide attempts and survival.
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A passionate leader in emergency medicine, Michelle C. Fernandez, M.D.. M.P.H., traveled the world sharing her talents with those fortunate enough to witness her excellence. She died December 25, 2023, at age 49.
Asked why she became a physician, she replied, “When I figured out what I was capable of and what the world needs,
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I know 25 docs who died by suicide in physician “health” programs. If you’re suicidal, don’t tell your boss (PD, or med board). You’ll be sent to a PHP 4-day evaluation & 90-day out-of-state “preferred” center with polygraphs and 5-years of AA & drug tests (even if you don’t do drugs) costing you 250K.
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(Video transcript below)
When a beautiful young doctor stepped off the rooftop of her Mount Sinai Hospital building—they covered her with a tarp.
Here’s the grassroots memorial that took over my training hospital after Congresswoman Gabrielle Gifford’s assassination attempt.
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Doctor revived after suicide. Here's what he says.
