Balderas-Santoyo JI

Language: Spanish
References: 4
Page: 49-
PDF size: 230.83 Kb.

ABSTRACT

The text describes the crisis in the medical residency system from the perspective of a resident physician. It begins with a personal experience illustrating extreme dedication and exhaustion, then reveals a systemic problem: a toxic training environment that harms the mental health of future specialists. This issue is highlighted by the tragic story of a colleague’s suicide, an event that is not isolated. A “diagnosis” is presented, supported by data and studies confirming a high prevalence of depression, burnout, suicidal ideation, and harassment (mobbing) among residents in different countries, including Mexico. The figures demonstrate that this is a real and widespread problem, aggravated by a culture that glorifies suffering and sacrifice. As a “treatment,” the author proposes concrete solutions centered on three pillars: 1) Fostering true mentors who lead by example and break the cycle of abuse. 2) Normalizing and facilitating access to mental healthcare, eliminating the stigma. 3) Restructuring the workload, proposing less frequent on-call shifts and conditions that ensure rest. The prognosis of applying these changes would be the training of more fulfilled and competent physicians, leading to a more humane healthcare system with fewer medical errors. The conclusion is a call to honor the oath to “do no harm” by extending it to colleagues, in order to build a positive legacy for future generations.

REFERENCES

1. Kwok C. Depression, stress, and perceived medicalerrors in Singapore psychiatry residents. Acad Psychiatry. 2021;45(2):169-173.

2. Tinoco-Santillan OE, López-Bernal CA, Bertado-RamírezNR, Montiel-Jarquín AJ, García-Galicia A, Porras-Juárez A,et al. Síndrome de burnout en residencias médicas en unhospital de tercer nivel de atención en Puebla. An Med ABC.2025;70(2):135-139. doi: 10.24875/AMH.M25000116.

3. Vilchis-Chaparro E, Moranchel-García L. Síndrome de desgasteen médicos residentes en una unidad médica de segundonivel de atención en la Ciudad de México. Med Int Méx2022;38(5):1001-1011.

4. Enriquez-Estrada VM, Antonio-Villa NE, Bello-Chavolla OY,Cuevas-García CF, Vargas-Gutiérrez PL, Noriega ISC, et al.Assessment of psychological terror and its impact on mentalhealth and quality of life in medical residents at a referencemedical center in Mexico: a cross-sectional study. PLoS One.2023;18(12):e0295138.