UK doctors subject to complaints procedures are at risk of becoming depressed and suicidal, according to research. Those referred to the General Medical Council (GMC), seem to be most at risk of mental ill health, the research published in the online journal BMJ Open found 7926 doctors completed a questionnaire which was included in the final analysis which found that 49% of them had faced a complaint in the past.
Levels of psychological distress paralleled the type of complaint. Doctors who had been referred to the GMC reported the highest levels of depression (more than 26%), anxiety (more than 22%), and thoughts of self-harm (more than 15%).
Doctors subject to a recent or ongoing complaint were also more likely to have poorer health and wellbeing, including gut problems, insomnia, and relationship issues.
Read More: Daily Mail / Press Assciation 17 January 2015