Posted on 03/23/2015 8:00:53 PM PDT by SeekAndFind
It’s estimated that at least 400 U.S. doctors kill themselves every year. Many are struggling with depression, anxiety, or addiction.
Greg Miday was a promising young doctor with a prestigious oncology fellowship in St. Louis. He spoke conversational Spanish, volunteered with the homeless, and played the piano as if he’d been born to it. He had rugged good looks, with dark wavy hair and a tall, athletic build. Everybody—siblings, patients, friends, nurses, professors, fellow doctors, and above all, his physician-parents—adored him.
On the evening of June 21, 2012, Greg drew a bath, lit candles, and put his iPod on speaker. He drank a copious quantity of vodka, and placed family photos on the ceramic ledge of the tub. At some point, he scribbled out a note that read:
“Dear Some,
My Family, I love you. To others who have been good friends, I love you too. This is just the end of the line for my particular train. Earth wasn’t a particularly great place for me. We’ll see what else is out there. Will miss you all! Am sorry for what it’s worth. Greg Miday.”
Then he climbed into the warm water and with surgical skill, punctured the arteries carrying blood to his hands and feet.
His parents called the next morning, but got no answer. Frantic, they reached his landlady, who summoned the St. Louis police after she heard music playing from the apartment but could not get Miday to open the door.
St. Louis police found the body. He was 29 years old.
(Excerpt) Read more at thedailybeast.com ...
Suicides by doctors were often a topic of conservation in the 1950’s. Doctors were also known to have a high rate of drug addiction. An old problem.
A noble Roman ending. Lot’s of physicians have suicide end point, throughout the history of the profession. The percentage is even more with dentists.
Drug abuse, suicide, mental illness— all higher %age in physicians, dentists.
Not so much with undertakers or pathologists. Their patients never complain, and they always get paid.
Physicians are really, if they are any good- practitioners of medical ART, informed by science.
The combination of materialism and-self-righteousness
as espoused by modern western/so-called-liberal culture
(and the Med School ethic, hardly worth mentioning but for the long hours and cadavers)
robs a man (forgive me ladies) of an understanding of the
decency and acceptability of awe, creation and infinity.
Not a new disease, all in all:
One of secular humanism and meaninglessness
without even the poetry or gorgeous stinky sex of nihilism.
He had been chemically dependent (alcohol and cocaine) for years; he had been referred to a PHP (Physician's Health Plan) for as 12-step program : according to the article these groups help keep doctors from losing licensure when news of their chemical habits gets to the State Licensing Board.
The article quotes from a couple of (wait for it...) Harvard psychiatrists who are critical of the current system; it struck me that the entire article was a front for those Harvard psychologists to legitimize their opinions under the guise of "News Reporting on an under-publicized CRISISTM!"
NO Cheers, unfortunately.
Someday soon the only doctors we will have access to are doctors who were admitted to medical school based upon their ethnic and gender identities rather than their abilities.
Oncology huh?
A bunch of “Dr. Bombays” and “Dr. Jomo Kenyattas”, not to mention absolute idiot english major- “Dr. Chick” part time cookie cutter non-diagnosticians. Sorry state of affairs vs. the brilliant internal medicine and primary care physicians of the past who were genius, well rounded diagnosticians and care givers.
My doctor is a comedian. One of the funniest people I have sat with. He doesn’t even have a weight-scale. He specializes in referrals.
His front desk nurse is the meanest woman I ever came across. I seen a lady leave in tears. She once jabbed a needle in my arm and let it hang there while she walked out of the room to pick-up the phone.
interesting you should say dentists. in, i believe, the 1800’s, the term was coined, “mad as a hatter”. this was because in those days mercury was used in the making of hats, and the hat makers, breathing in mercury vapors for years on end, went mad.
it was also proposed that this same mercury vapor is what causes so many dentists to take their lives.
Very sad. Drug addition. Debt. Insurance hassles and regulations.
I wouldn’t last either.
I guess I've hard on the medical profession. So far I've had one of my dentists and one of my doctors commit suicide.
To some of us, even the dreaded woman, the study of the human body only adds to our awe of the Creator who so wonderfully made us. I certainly have not lost decency nor has my husband also a doc. It all depends on your point of view and your anchor.
As I have told many fellow physicians and nurses - if I truly thought I could determine who lived or died, I would go crazy and probably suicidal. But the knowledge that we are all ultimately in God’s hand, including the time and place of our death, frees me to do the best I can then stand back and watch what God will do. I have seen the near miraculous and seen death when I thought the patient would pull through. All I can do is my best and dedicate my work to the One I work for, just as in any other profession.
Beautiful sentiment and belief, doctors. Knowing where one’s God given talents leave off, and that God’s hands are in control at all times having instructed you in doing your best- that has to be sustaining. Blessings. Deo Vindice.
Doctors and nurses too. Easy access to potent pin killer drugs is one reason. Too easy to get addicted. I should know, this tragedy it happened in my family.
Why couldn’t it be Lawyers?
Suicide rate for lawyers is also pretty high.
Why?... Because they are made to torment and twist society.
Thanks for sharing. I’ve wondered if faith in our Creator God helps ease the pain and pressure of helping people who are suffering.
Lately we’ve been through some trying times and were blessed to have doctors and nurses we trust and who were so kind and helpful.
Blessings to you and your husband.
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