by KYW's medical editor Dr. Brian McDonough

There is a disturbing report in today’s Annals of Internal Medicine that deals with those who watch over the health of others, physicians. According to a new study, death by suicide is a major occupational hazard for physicians and the numbers are startling.

Male physicians are 40% more likely to commit suicide than the general public and female physicians have a 130% higher suicide rate. But the report finds the problems start early: this study of 4,287 students at 7 medical schools found an unusually high number of medical students contemplate suicide.

The key factor at all levels appears to be burnout due to a combination of high expectations and an ever increasing work load and information to master. Burnout is common among medical students, and is associated with a two- to three-fold increased risk of thinking about suicide. The major point of the study is that medical students and physicians are often ignored and this issue needs to be addressed.