Why don't more doctors write about their experiences?

I started reading medical blogs whilst I was applying for medical school. It felt like a really interesting way to learn more and read first hand the different experiences people were having. Eventually the blogs I enjoyed reading would sort of fizzle out and then eventually become inactive.

So, I decided to start my own, but now that I've left medicine, it'll be hard for me to continue writing as I once did.

I know I received a lot of value from reading through experiences that were so similar to what I faced whilst I was still working as a junior doctor. I do wish there were more people telling their stories, I think there's so much to be gained from sharing.

Something called the Hipocratic Oath. Means you can't discuss confidential medical information.

How would you like it if you went to the doctor because you accidentally sat on a cucumber, and then he (or she) told the whole world about it!

There are lots of junior and senior doctor memoirs out there - I think we've actually seen something of an explosion recently. The public seem to love it.

There is something to be gained by sharing I agree. As for why doctors don't keep up personal blogs, I think work can be pretty tiring so a lot of the time you don't want to think about it all over again during your free time. Plus the enforced reflection crap probably exhausts a lot of people's capacity for writing about work in an interesting and creative way. Concerns about anonymity are also a likely contributing factor.

Anyway, there's still a lot out there even if it isn't in a personal blog e.g. interesting medical people on Twitter or KevinMD.


It is possible to write about one's experiences without divulging confidential information.

I don't know of any UK medical school which requires its graduates to take the Hippocratic oath - this is largely a figment of the general public's imagination.

I am at a UK medical school and we have to take the Hippocratic Oath on the day of graduation

I am at a UK medical school and we have to take the Hippocratic Oath on the day of graduation

I am at a UK medical school and we have to take the Hippocratic Oath on the day of graduation

Which medical school is this

Which one?

How would you like it if you went to the doctor because you accidentally sat on a cucumber, and then he (or she) told the whole world about it!

UEA

Thanks. Every day's a school day. I still think it's a rarity and much more of a "thing" in the public imagination than real life though.

UEA

I would much rather hospitals focused on finding non public places where staff (all health professionals) could openly reflect together. The removal of staff only canteens, doctors offices and messes makes this very difficult.

Can I ask why you left medicine?

Something called the Hipocratic Oath. Means you can't discuss confidential medical information.

How would you like it if you went to the doctor because you accidentally sat on a cucumber, and then he (or she) told the whole world about it!

It is possible to write about one's experiences without divulging confidential information.

I would much rather hospitals focused on finding non public places where staff (all health professionals) could openly reflect together. The removal of staff only canteens, doctors offices and messes makes this very difficult.