The case of the resident doctor found dead in the Floreasca Hospital bathroom generated strong reactions among the medical community. Cătălina Poiană, president of the Romanian College of Doctors, points out that no conclusions can be drawn until the medico-legal expertise is completed.
In a press conference held on Monday, the head of the College of Doctors emphasized the need to avoid speculation, stating that there is, at this moment, not enough information to draw a conclusion regarding the cause of death.
“Addictions exist among doctors and other professions. There are also among doctors from abroad and other professions from abroad, this is not a problem of the Romanian doctor”, said Cătălina Poiană.
Burnout, associated with depression, not necessarily with addictions
The President of the College of Physicians explained that the data of recent studies indicate a clear connection between burnout and conditions such as depression, anxiety or even suicidal tendencies, but the connection with substance use is not as obvious.
Cătălina Poiană showed that, in such cases, several factors intervene, such as living conditions, the environment and individual characteristics.
At the same time, the president of the College of Doctors drew attention to the overwork of the medical staff.
“This overwork of the doctor which – both for the resident doctor and for the other categories – means accumulated fatigue and this overwork can more easily subject you to mistakes. I mean mistakes in general”Cătălina Poiană also affirmed.
The official said that after determining the cause of death, the authorities and the medical system should analyze what measures can be taken to prevent similar situations.
We remind you that the resident doctor Alexandru Neacșu, who died on Saturday at the Floreasca Hospital in Bucharest, allegedly administered fentanyl, an extremely strong synthetic opioid, according to sources from the investigation.
“People’s fear is that they’ll ever go to the emergency room and find a drugged-out doctor and their diarrhea will go unsolved.”
The doctor Oana Mocanu described on Monday, on his blog and in a post on Facebook, the harsh reality of the residency and the pressure in the system.
The doctor says that he found out about the tragedy at the very beginning of the day.
“I woke up at 6:30 and the first news I read over coffee was that a “resident” from Floreasca was found dead in the bathroom, while on duty,” it shows in the post
Reactions after the death of a resident doctor at Floreasca Hospital: “Many go to work with fear”. Rogobete: “We are talking about a man”
In his opinion, the status of the resident is deeply unfair in the system:
“This planet species, half doctor, half student, called ‘the resident’. He’s not a real doctor, he’s just a resident“.
Oana Mocanu talks about the long and difficult path of a doctor in training, emphasizing the late moment when they end up building their personal life.
“The resident graduated from a 6-year college, 3 years longer than a regular college, which after graduation, propels you straight into the middle of life. You become a real doctor at least 30 years old. The doctor’s life starts there… Until then, they are semi-humans trying to survive“, he writes in the same post.
The doctor recounts the beginning of his residency:
“Into the madness there had also come a gentleman who spoke English and said he had diarrhoea. He was pronouncing the word ‘diarrhea’ so passionately that it sounded like the worst thing that had ever happened to him. The team that had resuscitated, awakened the drugged, performed gastric lavage, dealt with the patient with diarrhea, without comment. Every suffering had its place. I was shocked by the idea of an adult coming to the emergency room for diarrhea. I’ve been guarding since my early years. No one asked me if I wanted to, that was not the problem. And anyway, I would have answered yes. I wanted to see, learn, work. I didn’t get anything for the lost nights. I didn’t even think about getting anything. For me, those nights serving patients were part of my job. I lived in a studio apartment, and my parents paid the rent. My salary was enough for bills and food”reports the doctor.
“I’m coming after the 24-hour guard where I was called insensible”
Oana Mocanu criticizes the way the case is discussed in the public space:
“I’ve seen countless comments in the media about the idea that the resident got high and got his dose wrong. People’s fear is that they’ll ever go to the emergency room and find a doctor high and their diarrhea going unresolved.”
The doctor describes a recent guard:
“I’m coming after 24 hours on call where I was called ‘unfeeling’ by parents who brought their children to UPU at 3am for fevers of several hours’ onset“.
His message ends with a direct criticism of the way the deceased doctor’s case is being handled:
“A body was discovered…and the hyenas flocked to him for a tasting. He was just a resident, not a real human anyway.”
