Doctors' health was a serious focus of the AMA National Conference, with panel discussions, presentations and policy debates dedicated to the issue. An important motion passed at the conference in relation to doctors' welling was resolved by AMA President Tony Bartone and Council of Doctors in Training Chair Dr Tessa Kennedy.
It read:
That our AMA reaffirms its support for the 2017 update of the Declaration of the World Medical Association pledge, noting in particular: "I will attend to my own health, wellbeing, and abilities in order to provide care of the highest standard";
Affirms that doctors must care about and value the health of their colleagues, understanding that safe and mentally safe workplaces lead to health doctors and better outcomes for patients and their doctors; and
Calls on the AMA Federal Council to lead the action to coordinate and drive the medical profession to form a leadership group that will work:
- a) in a consistent, coordinated, supportive and inclusive manner to
- b) collaboratively implement the national framework addressing factors that will enhance the physical and mental health of doctors and medical students and improve the health and well-being of the medical profession.
The motion was passed emphatically.
