Trainee doctor from LEEDS jumped to his death after failing exams--omg when ws ths??

[Dr Noodle]

Sometimes people need encouragement rather than shock tactics to make them work harder.

[PureMedic]

The reality is (or was when I was a med student) that sometime during training, someone is going to meet a tired or angry (or both) doctor/tutor who is going to say something utterly rude which will make even a very good student like I was, re-think his whole life and an identity crisis may ensue. Personally, at Leeds med school, I had just returned from a very short vacation between 3rd & 4th year. My mind was slightly preoccupied with by a 'flame' who was not interested in me or any other male as her parents constantly tried to find someone for her and she didn't like it. Anyway, I began the 4th year with obs. & gynae. About three days into the course my knowledge was tested by an irate registrar who told me flatly that if I don't know what effacement of the cervix was, I would fail. At that point I was still buying the required books, let alone studying hard. The registrar was doing a 1 in 2 rota and vented her frustrations onto me, a perfectly normal, good student who had not yet had time to begin studying obs & gynae. That 'bullying' had profound consequences and it was a self-fulfilling prophecy. I *did fail the first time I took the exams. When one has been a very good student until some tutor unnecessarily says the contrary is true, the ramifications can really hurt. Sorry, had I had more time, my answer would be more concise.

[Eponine_hugo]

At risk of sounding heartless medicine can be a gruelling career and u have to take the rough with the smooth, if you can't handle a few negative,irrate comments and take them for what they are; the vented frustrations of an over-worked senior, then how will you cope when your working as a doctor and not only do ur seniors treat you poorly but a lot of the patients do too?

[deedee01]

Originally Posted by Eponine_hugo

At risk of sounding heartless medicine can be a gruelling career and u have to take the rough with the smooth, if you can't handle a few negative,irrate comments and take them for what they are; the vented frustrations of an over-worked senior, then how will you cope when your working as a doctor and not only do ur seniors treat you poorly but a lot of the patients do too?

i understand waht ur saying bt its not like the few negative comments are the only problem in ur life. If u've got a lot on and under stress already and someone who is meant 2 be giving u support just says ur rubbish itz not necessarily easy just to shrug it off. Evryone's differnt and i think i have quite thick skin bt can admit people have made me doubt whether i'm good enough to do medicine by remarks. Basically i;m saying its not the remarks alone that are upsetin they're just the straw the broke the camels back if you get me.

[Dr Noodle]

Dee dee's right. Plus being able to cope and act appropriately goes both ways. That doctor shouldn't have been given the role of fifth year tutor if he couldn't keep his snide remarks in check when tired/stressed.

[Rich' Trash]

Originally Posted by Eponine_hugo

At risk of sounding heartless medicine can be a gruelling career and u have to take the rough with the smooth, if you can't handle a few negative,irrate comments and take them for what they are; the vented frustrations of an over-worked senior, then how will you cope when your working as a doctor and not only do ur seniors treat you poorly but a lot of the patients do too?

Yeah better he commited suicide now rather than when he was a doc eh? Please dont ever go anywhere near psychiatry.

[Muffin2]

i've got a shit load of stuff wrong at the moment, and i'm fine. eponine hugo is right. you need to toughen up when you become a med student/doctor.
your going to get shouted at, your going to get told your stupid, your going to get told to go and do something else. its commonly known as learning by humiliation, and it happens every day to every student and junior doc.

ps. i hate psychiatry and psycology. its far to wishy washy. half the time they make a condition up just to suit the patients symptoms. (just done a mental health rotation)

[yazoo]

The way I read it, Eponine-Hugo was probably making a comment about the post directly above her post. The way one speaks to a final year student who is resitting would be entirely different to encountering Joe Student on the ward. Joe Student needs to experience the stress that will come with the job or it will be an almighty shock.

I'm not saying that harsh comments should be made, but to expect everyone to be nice and supportive is not realistic. To expect everyone to be supportive of a failing final year student is realistic.

[yazoo]

Originally Posted by Muffin2

its commonly known as learning by humiliation, and it happens every day to every student and junior doc.

I disagree. It does not happen evry day in my experience. But I'm sure it happens at least a few times to everyone during their med school years. But it is less and less common, partly due to a growing understanding that it is not a particularly effective teaching method, partly because it is considered as bullying by more and more people.

It definitely happens to some students more than others. If they are bothered, they should take a step back and ask why. Generally, it is to the disinterested or the slackers or the loud-mouths. Sometimes it is just necessary to view it as a personality clash. Pleasantly enthusiatic students don't suffer as much, even if their knowledge is found lacking.

[Muffin2]

i don't think anyone will ever know exactly what happened. the good thing is now that leeds do offer coucilling and support whenever you need. although this was apperently never offered before.