Code Wack - When Doctors Can't Help Patients: The Moral Injury Crisis

🚨 When Doctors Can't Help Patients: The Moral Injury Crisis 🚨
This week on Code WACK!, HEAL California's podcast on healthcare justice, we're examining moral injury in medicine and what happens when physicians are prevented from giving patients the care they know they need.
🎙️ Guest: Diljeet K. Singh, MD, DrPH, President of Physicians for a National Health Program (PNHP)
Dr. Singh is a practicing gynecologic oncologist and principal investigator of PNHP's report, Moral Injury in Medicine: The Human Costs of Practicing in a Profit-Driven System.
The report surveyed more than 1,200 physicians and found that 68% experienced moderate or severe distress over being unable to provide the best possible care. More than one in four reported leaving a position because of moral distress.
🩺 In this episode, we cover:
✅ The difference between physician burnout and moral injury
✅ Why doctors can love their jobs while experiencing serious moral distress
✅ How insurance barriers and medical costs interfere with patient care
✅ What PNHP's research reveals about the pressures facing American physicians
✅ Why Dr. Singh believes a universal, single-payer healthcare system could help address the underlying causes
Dr. Singh also describes a patient with cancer whose $350 CT scan copay complicated a critical treatment decision. It's a powerful example of how financial barriers can affect medical care and the physicians trying to provide it.
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📄 Read PNHP's report: https://pnhp.org/understanding-moral-injury-in-health-care/