Why abuse in health care is forcing doctors to leave the profession

Psychiatrist Devina Maya Wadhwa discusses her article, "How abuse in health care is driving doctors out of medicine." In this episode, Devina shares her experiences as a physician working in acute care settings, where she encounters racial, verbal, and physical abuse while treating vulnerable patients. She delves into how prolonged wait times, outdated hospital policies, and systemic pressures create environments ripe for abuse, driving physician burnout and prompting many to exit the profession. Devina explores the emotional toll on doctors, the decline in patient care quality, and the urgent need for solutions like anti-abuse policies, enhanced medical training, and public awareness campaigns. Listeners will discover actionable steps—such as fostering safer workplaces and promoting mutual respect—to protect physicians and strengthen the health care system. Our presenting sponsor is Microsoft Dragon Copilot. Microsoft Dragon Copilot, your AI assistant for clinical workflow, is transforming how clinicians work. Now you can streamline and customize documentation, surface information right at the point of care, and automate tasks with just a click. Part of Microsoft Cloud for Healthcare, Dragon Copilot offers an extensible AI workspace and a single, integrated platform to help unlock new levels of efficiency. Plus, it's backed by a proven track record and decades of clinical expertise—and it's built on a foundation of trust. It's time to ease your administrative burdens and stay focused on what matters most with Dragon Copilot, your AI assistant for clinical workflow. VISIT SPONSOR → https://aka.ms/kevinmd SUBSCRIBE TO THE PODCAST → https://www.kevinmd.com/podcast RECOMMENDED BY KEVINMD → https://www.kevinmd.com/recommended GET CME FOR THIS EPISODE → https://www.kevinmd.com/cme I'm partnering with Learner+ to offer clinicians access to an AI-powered reflective portfolio that rewards CME/CE credits from meaningful reflections. Find out more: https://www.kevinmd.com/learnerplus