The question of what doctors should do if asked to take on additional responsibilities in an over-stretched system remains unanswered. The latest guidance suggests various layers of escalation (1). Taking aside the impracticality of trying to do this whilst fire-fighting, this does not help those who find the situation unchanged despite escalation.
Keeping calm and carrying on only perpetuates the status quo. Refusing to work would precipitate a crisis that demands a response, e.g. the cancellation of clinic to free up doctors, the temporary closure of assessment units until they are deemed safe, etc. Whilst it goes against the very fibre of our vocation, at times it may be in patients' interests for doctors to down tools.
Rapid Response:
Doctors may be forced to 'down tools'
The question of what doctors should do if asked to take on additional responsibilities in an over-stretched system remains unanswered. The latest guidance suggests various layers of escalation (1). Taking aside the impracticality of trying to do this whilst fire-fighting, this does not help those who find the situation unchanged despite escalation.
Keeping calm and carrying on only perpetuates the status quo. Refusing to work would precipitate a crisis that demands a response, e.g. the cancellation of clinic to free up doctors, the temporary closure of assessment units until they are deemed safe, etc. Whilst it goes against the very fibre of our vocation, at times it may be in patients' interests for doctors to down tools.
1) GMC "FAQs: outcome of High Court appeal – Dr Bawa-Garba case". 2 Feb 2018. https://gmcuk.wordpress.com/2018/02/02/faqs-outcome-of-high-court-appeal...
Competing interests: I am a junior doctor who has made mistakes.