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Medical doctors who had to go through a complaints procedure have a significantly elevated risk on mental health problems. Researchers write this in the British Medical Journal. Among other things, doctors involved in a complaints procedure develop symptoms of depression and fear. Also, as a result of complaints procedures, the doctors practice their profession in a more defensive way.

Tim Bourne and his colleagues asked 95,636 British doctors whether they wanted to participate in an online questionnaire. The analysis of the results was based on the responses of 7,926 doctors (8.3 percent) who had completed the questionnaire. The most mental problems were observed in doctors who recently went through a complaints procedure (within six months). In 17 percent of these doctors, moderate to severe depressive complaints were observed and 15 percent suffered from significant complaints of fear. In doctors who did not have personal experience with a complaints procedure, these percentages were 9.5 and 7.3 percent, respectively. 

According to the authors, complaints procedures influence the way in which doctors practice medicine. 84.7 percent of all doctors who recently went through a complaints procedure, stated that they practiced their job differently because of the complaint. Also, seeing a colleague who has to go through a complaints procedure can make an impression: 72.7 percent of all doctors who never underwent such a procedure stated that they have been doing their job differently since they met a colleague who was filed for a complaint. The changed way of practice expresses itself in avoidance (refraining from difficult operations) and doing a lot of research, whereas they know this is medically unnecessary.

The authors comment on their own research by pointing out a possible response bias, and the fact that it is an observational study. Still, they believe that their findings are relevant, considering the fact that according to them this is the largest British study of its kind until now. They state that the current complaints system has disadvantages for doctors as well as researchers: "A system that leads to doctors practicing defensive medicine is not beneficial for the patient."

Source: British Medical Journal Open

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