Of the more than 2900 physicians who completed this year's Physician Resource Questionnaire, 300 supplied verbatim comments about the condition their profession is in. Only 4 of the comments reflected positively on the state of medicine. Here's a sample.
· “Health care in Canada is like the story of the Titanic. The boat has already hit the iceberg and the ship is going down. It is going to get very bad over the next 5 years.”
· “We are totally overworked, especially administratively. There is increase load of WSIB [Workers Safety and Insurance Board] papers, accident papers, insurance papers, office clients, referral letters to specialists and now even charting temperatures on our fridge for vaccine storage as requested by public health. For this amount of work I feel used, abused and underpaid.”
· “I find the cost of running the office very expensive (computer, software, etc.) However, the government does not have any subsidies available for doctors' offices to keep up with the technology.”
· “Too many hours, too many patients, feels like fast-food medicine.”
· “The practice of family medicine on my own from 1980 to 2000 led to work overload, was always stressful and did not allow me to live a normal life. I therefore opted for asthma and allergies. I love it, because it allows me to become thoroughly immersed in these fields, as regards both the scientific and human aspects.”
· “I have less and less time and energy for personal activities. Once my day off was 90% nonmedical, now it is catch-up time for paperwork, office management, house calls, etc., which fill approx. 75% of the day — i.e. 25% off.”
· “I hope to retire by age 55 yr. I hope to retire completely from medicine and anything related to it.”
· “Feel like a mouse on treadmill.”
· “I still love the work I do — I'm just tired.”
· “I enjoy my work in office and hospital. Great colleagues; excellent facilities. The pay is a bonus.”