Should medical professionals be forced to retire at a certain age?
It’s an interesting question.
Young doctors see and are in awe of their mentors and other experienced doctors who continue to work way past retirement age.
In many cases those that continue to work know they should probably down tools, go home, sit on the sofa and have a warm cup of cocoa.
But equally, others say they can go on for decades longer.
This is what I have found.
Many continue to work because there is a financial need to do so. I have many I know who did not plan when their incomes were good and have nothing to show for it. So, they must keep working to live a lifestyle.
But there are others that continue to work because they love the work and the difference they make.
But considering the delicate nature and importance of the work medical professionals do should there be an age limit?
Air traffic controllers face mandatory retirement ages and commercial airline pilots must bow out too after a certain age.
But for medical professionals there is no age limit, regardless of specialty.
And it’s not as if the medical professionals are getting any younger. In America, 30% of the medical professionals are ‘senor’ and still working. Australia also has a high percentage.
I personally feel that there should not be an age limit, but maybe the need for competence should assessed after a certain age.
I deal with medical professionals daily. All are happy to give me medical advice, but rarely will they take their own advice. It’s as if medical professionals feel they are superhuman in some way. It is true, they make the worst patients.
One thing I do know. Age is something that affects us all differently. I know 70-year-old people who would struggle to get up from sitting down or can’t remember what they did yesterday.
What do you think? Should we have mandated ages for retirement medical professionals?
