The Degradation of Medical Education

 

By now, the consequences of heavy-handed lockdown policies have become self-evident. Even the most pious Covidians have begun to admit that lockdowns were not the answer. The collateral damage spans everything from food shortages to childhood suicide. However, the quality of medical education has not received as much attention.

Coincidentally, the drawn-out scream that is this blog started with an exploration of how we arrived at the problems currently plaguing medicine.

While you read this, remember the quality of your experiences with the healthcare industry prior to 2020, for better or for worse.

Before we explore the changes specifically affecting medical training, let us recap the consequences of lockdowns on the general population—as they also apply to people who happen to be in the medical field.

• Social isolation—leading to a whole host of consequences
• Increased anxiety and depression
• Increased alcohol and drug abuse
• Loss of income & livelihood
• Lost follow-up for a variety of medical conditions
• Loss of friends or family to widespread malpractice

You may think that medical students & trainees may be more resilient (or have access to greater support) in the face of psychological stress or uncertainty. Unfortunately, this is not always the case. Even before 2020, medical professionals suffered from some of the highest rates of burnout and suicidality. Additionally, the practice of coddling young adults within the confines of the college campus have also made tremendous inroads into medical education.  (more...)

The Degradation of Medical Education