What junior doctors' unpaid overtime tells us about the toxic side of medicine.

A recent class action lawsuit in Australia has settled, resulting in a nearly A$230 million back-pay settlement for thousands of junior doctors who were allegedly underpaid by NSW Health. The lawsuit aimed to bring attention to the toxic work culture in medicine, where overworking junior doctors and mistreatment have been normalized. Research shows that long hours and abuse have significant negative impacts on the mental health of junior doctors, leading to high levels of depression, anxiety, and thoughts of suicide. The authors of the article suggest that culture change is necessary, including better work-life balance, protection of personal time, and means to hold senior doctors accountable. [Extracted from the article]