Much has been written recently about the mental health of the Australian medical workforce, with doctors being burned out, bullied, harassed and mentally unwell.1,2 Why are doctors so unkind to each other? What has happened to collegiality? While we are from different medical backgrounds, we are united in the belief that it is time for change; time for a united response from the Australian medical profession focusing on collegiality, using kindness and understanding as the catalyst and clinical handover as the opportunity.
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- 1. beyondblue. National Mental Health Survey of Doctors and Medical Students. October 2013. https://www.beyondblue.org.au/docs/default-source/research-project-files/bl1132-report---nmhdmss-full-report_web (viewed Oct 2018).
- 2. Crebbin W, Campbell G, Hillis DA, et al. Prevalence of bullying, discrimination and sexual harassment in surgery in Australasia. ANZ J Surg 2015; 85: 905-909.
- 3. Crock C. Patient, staff safety and wellbeing: time for kindness. MJA InSight 2017; 11 Sept. https://www.doctorportal.com.au/mjainsight/2017/35/patient-staff-safety-and-wellbeing-time-for-kindness/ (viewed Oct 2018).
- 4. Australian Commission on Safety and Quality in Health Care. The OSSIE guide to clinical handover improvement. Sydney: ACSQHC, 2010. https://www.safetyandquality.gov.au/wp-content/uploads/2012/01/ossie.pdf (viewed Oct 2018).
- 5. Arora VM, Johnson JK, Meltzer DO, Humphrey HJ. A theoretical framework and competency-based approach to improving handoffs. Qual Saf Health Care 2008; 17: 11-14.
We thank Dr Malcolm Clark for his contribution to an earlier draft of this article.
No relevant disclosures.