This archive report was first published on 17 September 2019.
Published on September 17, 2019, a story was shared about a doctor who was known for his kind and gentle manner, but suddenly changed in a way that none had expected.
He became 'born again' and took the Holy Bible to wherever he went, praying before seeing patients, in theatre, and even before teaching. His appearance also changed, neglecting his dress and growing an untidy beard.
It was when he started drinking that all knew that our teacher had 'lost it.' A few beers led to bizarre behavior, including missing the toilet and passing urine in the street.
However, it was later discovered that the doctor had a brain tumour, which was removed by a neurosurgeon, and six months later, he got his old teacher back.
This story highlights the importance of looking into the well-being of doctors, as they are not immune to mental health issues, addiction, and poor behavior.
According to statistics, doctors all over the world have poorer mental health outcomes than their patients, and the risk of suicide is higher in doctors than in the general population.
Doctors also stand a high risk of addiction to prescription drugs and indeed alcoholism, making it essential for regulators to get doctors into care without punishing them.
The Kenya Medical Association takes doctors' health very seriously, and now that we know that doctors are but mere human beings, would you consider those without compassion to their patients for further training or treatment?
