Medicine- still a good career option?

[quasimodo]

Some people might find this an interesting article.

http://www.newstatesman.com/politics/he ... twist-wind" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

It's worth clicking on the link in the article too to give a bit more background...

Thank you, Loobylou, it really is a must-read article. I had no idea that junior doctors' legal position was completely different from the 'established' doctors, or whatever the correct term is. My guess is that, sadly, a vast majority of people are unaware of this.

The status quo is that HEE isn’t fully bound by S43K whistleblowing laws because it is a training provider not an employer, while NHS trusts, which take junior doctors on as temporary employees contract-by-contract, don’t have to afford the same rights to them as they would more permanent staff. (...)

Incidentally, Parliament is currently acting on legislation affecting junior doctors. Friday sees the second reading of a Private Member’s Bill to remove the entire medical profession from the European Working Time Directive (EWTD) laws, led by Tory MP Christopher Chope. (...)

So we have a situation in which Conservative MPs are trying to push through legislation removing all doctors, nurses, HCAs and AHPs from working hours protections, while a “conscious choice” not to protect doctors who raise safety concerns goes unquestioned.

How can this be right?

All whistleblowers including junior doctors deserve more protection and its outrageous how many of them have been treated.They have their careers ruined, reputations tarnished and lives turned upside down.Even when they win their cases, the compensation never compensates for the lost years and the hardships endured and all the loss they have already suffered.A colleague of mine would regularly bring up one case which he supported over the years.

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article ... afety.html" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

[PurpleDuck]

All whistleblowers including junior doctors deserve more protection and its outrageous how many of them have been treated.They have their careers ruined, reputations tarnished and lives turned upside down.Even when they win their cases, the compensation never compensates for the lost years and the hardships endured and all the loss they have already suffered.A colleague of mine would regularly bring up one case which he supported over the years.

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article ... afety.html" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

15 years! No wonder doctors are afraid to speak up when they see something wrong going on. Maybe if whistleblowers were not persecuted by their employers, we would not see those reports on TV about 'shocking failings in Trust X hospitals'...

[loobylou]

We have just written a "whistle blowing" letter. We had a meeting to discuss whether everyone was happy to sign it - and we probably have some protection.
In this case, apparently Dr Day had an exemplary record, his appraisals etc all showing that he was an excellent doctor. THen he whistle blew and his training number was simply not renewed the following year. With no explanation. Apparently the HEE do not have to give an explanation.
He was 4 years off consultant status and now has no chance of career progression at all unless he wins. And even then I wonder if they can force the HEE to reinstate him.

[Amber]

We have just written a "whistle blowing" letter. We had a meeting to discuss whether everyone was happy to sign it - and we probably have some protection.
In this case, apparently Dr Day had an exemplary record, his appraisals etc all showing that he was an excellent doctor. THen he whistle blew and his training number was simply not renewed the following year. With no explanation. Apparently the HEE do not have to give an explanation.
He was 4 years off consultant status and now has no chance of career progression at all unless he wins. And even then I wonder if they can force the HEE to reinstate him.

Sometimes I think we are becoming a police state. Freedom of speech, which we pride ourselves on pretty much having invented, is slowly being eroded by the state - academic funding is given to those who can demonstrate 'impact' by producing something measurable and useful (usually in an economic sense); whistleblowers are persecuted; universities are banning 'controversial' speakers; and Nick Gibb is determined to find his rogue marker without asking why it could be that someone felt moved to leak the first exam paper in heaven-knows how many years.

We bang on about democracy and how we need to spread it to countries which supposedly aren't as civilised as we are, and whose human rights abuses are all over our media (unless we want to do a nuclear deal with them), but under our own noses things aren't always so rosy, are they?

[tiffinboys]

http://www.bbc.com/news/uk/health" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

Junior doctors' new contract deal done.

[hermanmunster]

http://www.bbc.com/news/uk/health

Junior doctors' new contract deal done.

Has to go to vote of the juniors sometime in June. Lots of chat on doctors' fora - most can't work out whether it is a good deal of not .. suspect might be clearer in a few days

[rd1709]

There are definitely some strong reasons to avoid Medicine (especially the new enforced contract), but Medicine still offers very good job security and also once you choose Medicine, the choice and range of specialties means that your highly likely to find at least one area that you enjoy.

[JaneEyre]

A bit of fun... It is not an easy quiz but a very interesting one!

THE OLDEST DISEASES OF WORLD QUIZ

http://health.howstuffworks.com/disease ... hswaccount" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;