Physician burnout: a poem on the unseen weight of medicine

Summary: Doctors take an oath to care for people, not to act like machines. But today, doctors are drowning in paperwork, computer screens, and rushed 15-minute appointments. They take their work home and stay up late typing notes while the rest of the world sleeps. Many doctors feel like they are sinking and wonder if they are even making a difference.

The medical system tells them to work faster and see more patients, which causes terrible exhaustion and burnout. Doctors need time to listen to their patients, and they need help with all the extra computer tasks. Working until you collapse is not a badge of honor, and doctors are humans first. To fix this, the system must change to give doctors the support they need. When doctors are healthy and supported, patients get much better care.

For more details, see kevinmd at kevinmd.com/2026/03/physician-burnout-a-poem-on-the-unseen-weight-of-medicine.html (opens in new tab)