The tragic suicide of Dr. Catalina Gutiérrez Zuluaga, a surgical resident at Pontificia Universidad Javeriana in Bogotá, has sparked significant public outcry and intensified discussions about the mental health of university students, particularly medical residents. This event has unearthed long-standing issues within the training system for residents in Colombia, prompting various stakeholders in the health sector to call for measures to ensure the well-being of these students.
In response to the situation, the National Association of Interns and Residents (ANIR), which has been in existence for over 60 years, issued a statement highlighting the urgent need for dialogue and pathways to address mental health and prevent violence within academic institutions. Cindy Viviana Rodríguez, a pediatric resident at Universidad Nacional and currently the president of ANIR Regional Centro (Bogotá), pointed out that Gutiérrez’s case reflects a systemic issue that has persisted for years.
Rodríguez emphasized how medical residents are subjected to exhausting work hours and mistreatment, a problem not exclusive to Universidad Javeriana but common across various universities in the country. She stated, “It’s not the residents against the professors; rather, it’s a confrontation with an unsuitable teaching model.” While acknowledging that some professors are supportive, many of the challenges arise in hospitals where staff without pedagogical training often supervise residents, leading to instances of mistreatment.
ANIR has received alarming reports detailing residents being forced to work from as early as 4 AM until 9 PM, breaching regulations that cap their shifts at 12 hours and total work hours at 66 per week. Moreover, a study by ANIR Valle indicated that about 12% of surveyed residents had experienced some form of physical aggression during their training.
Rodríguez pointed out that rigorous academic demands should not come at the expense of humane treatment. She called for an educational model focused on mentorship and facilitating learning rather than one characterized by verbal abuse and maltreatment, which could adversely affect vital patient-doctor relationships.
She also noted a troubling lack of awareness among hospitals and universities regarding proper channels for addressing grievances. Currently, the reporting processes tend to be revictimizing and ineffective, often routing complaints back to the individuals accused without meaningful resolution. Recently, ANIR received 150 complaints from across Colombia, including cities like Cartagena, Pereira, Bogotá, Valle del Cauca, and Santander.
The discourse surrounding mental health and mistreatment in the training of medical residents opens the door for a profound reflection on the urgent need to reform educational models. The voices from the health sector underline that mental health issues related to healthcare careers demand immediate attention. For instance, Father Luis Fernando Múnera has confirmed specific instances of mistreatment and harassment of professors at Universidad Javeriana, indicating the seriousness of the situation.
Rodríguez insisted that students should be educated in environments devoid of insults and yelling, stressing the importance of equitable workloads and a respectful teaching atmosphere to promote quality training without resorting to maltreatment.
Ultimately, the situation calls for necessary dialogue regarding reforms in teaching methodologies and the working environment for medical residents in Colombia. There is an urgent need for concrete measures to enhance the mental health and overall well-being of students in all educational institutions.
Image and News Source: https://www.infobae.com/colombia/2024/07/24/condiciones-negligentes-hacia-estudiantes-de-medicina-muestra-maltratos-psicologicos-y-fisicos-segun-presidenta-de-asociacion-de-residentes-de-colombia/
