AMA says NO to Students

I thought this was pretty important to post as it is an issue that is not only happening in Australia but also around the world (I'm pretty sure). I want to see what you guys think.
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Students No Substitute For Doctors, Australian Medical Association

05 Jun 2006

Hospitals should immediately stop employing medical students as substitute doctors, AMA Vice President, Dr Choong-Siew Yong, said today.

“Doctors are alarmed at reports that final-year students have been employed to fill medical workforce shortages and have at times been left without supervision and asked to undertake tasks that should only be performed by fully qualified doctors,” Dr Yong said.

“Medical students are not substitutes for doctors, and nor should they be expected to fulfil roles for which they are not yet ready.

“Employing students as doctors risks patient safety, risks the future medical registration of the student and brings up a host of legal and medical indemnity issues.”

The problem was highlighted in South Australia last year when a number of medical students were controversially employed by hospitals trying to deal with chronic workforce problems.

AMA Federal Council met last week in Adelaide to finalise policy calling for an end to this practice.

“The clinical role of medical students in hospitals is learning, not earning,” Dr Yong said.

“Public hospitals must focus on the recruitment and retention of doctors to manage the care of patients, as well as provide training and supervision for students.

“The AMA accepts the reality that medical students need some form of income stream and we recognise that medical students can be employed in hospitals - but not as doctors.

“Students must be appropriately trained, have clear job descriptions and the role should not interfere with their study.”

Dr Yong's comments were echoed by Australian Medical Students' Association President Teresa Cosgriff.

“Students need to have the flexibility to study and learn in the way that suits them best,” Ms Cosgriff said.

“When you're employed by a hospital, that puts you under a number of pressures, especially when your boss or supervisor is also your assessor.

“It makes it hard to say no, for example, if you're asked to put in extra hours at work but you feel you need to be in the library studying. It's a very dangerous situation to be in.

http://www.ama.com.au
Article URL: http://www.medicalnewstoday.com/medi...p?newsid=44563

Sad to say but I kind of agree with what was said. I mean, think about it.... If your grandmother went in with a serious problem, would you want trust a medical student to treat her or would you want a real doctor with experience to and a MD to treat her?
Ladies, if you went in with your sick child and it was an emergency, would you want a real doctor or someone who hasn't really completed there course of studies?
Personally I would want an MD to take care of my baby this way if something goes wrong I can really lay it on him and not say "well its not his fault cause he's only a student".

That's just me!

I definitely agree.

Being a student practicing medicine is serious enough. We have to deal with MDs and Laws, especially HIPPA Laws.
We dont also want others' lives in our hands when we are just barely learning. At least I, as a student, dont want that kind of responsibility on my shoulders.

You are definitely right on your points Natacha. I wouldnt want my family members, or me for that matter to be in the hands of students. I would much rather get professional service from an already trained and well rounded physician.

Students have the right to learn and practice but they can exercise that right under physician supervision. Its a tough subject that I am glad people are paying attention to and doing something about it. Medicine is serious business especially when being practiced on other people .

wel in a country like Fiji thats wat u wil get.we don hav enuf doctors and i gues the medical students help out alot...its better than nothing eh....