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- Page navigation anchor for RE: physician suicide preventionRE: physician suicide prevention
Christine Moutier is an eloquent spokesperson for the previously unacknowledged secret that is taking an entire class of physicians per year in the US.[1] I think it is appalling, if true as described by Dr. Sarah Giles in a previous response (“RE: OMA insurance helps to brush physician depression under the rug”, available at http://www.cmaj.ca/content/189/39/E1240/tab-e-letters) that OMA insurance does not cover needed mental health care for physicians. Such a restriction would be an illegal form of discrimination in the US, which is rarely ahead of Canada in matters with such political import.
As coauthor of the study cited by Moutier in the article, I can assure you that there are enough obstacles in the US to discourage use of mental health services by physicians even when they are free and confidential.
The forthcoming movie "Do No Harm" should be an eye-opener.
References
1. Andrew LB. Physician Suicide. Available: http://emedicine.medscape.com/article/806779Competing Interests: None declared. - Page navigation anchor for RE: OMA insurance helps to brush physician depression under the rugRE: OMA insurance helps to brush physician depression under the rug
I found Roger Collier's piece on physician suicide to be both timely and important. It is important to note that groups meant to support physicians can also deter them from seeking care. OMA insurance, insurance used by many doctors both inside and outside of Ontario, denies insurance coverage for counselling and medication if an insured member has a history of mental health concerns. In order to be covered, a physician with such a history has to seek a letter stating that s/he has been stable and not requiring treatment for at least two years. Of course, physicians with a history of mental health problems who are looking for help are unlikely to be free from mental health concerns at that moment! If the insurance provided by the OMA denies physicians coverage for the care they need, calling it a pre-existing condition, how can we even pretend to be taking physician mental health seriously?
Competing Interests: None declared.