2024-09-14 17:27:40
More and more women are becoming doctors in Quebec: They will soon represent 70% of the workforce. This is good news for patients who benefit from their listening and empathy, but it also leads to changes in the organization of work, noted The Journal.
The health network must adapt to the feminization of medicine, argue several women exasperated that maternity leave is always pointed out to explain the lack of access to doctors.
“Women miss a maximum of two years out of 30 or 40 years of practice. It’s not relevant as an argument from a statistical point of view,” summarizes Élyse Berger-Pelletier, emergency physician in Lévis.
“I tell them: take your year!” says Dr. Ariane Murray, mother of four. “Children only grow up once.” […] The challenge is to set up an appropriate work organization. We have no choice, we have to move towards that.”
The feminization of medicine highlights the (sometimes difficult) access to maternity leave.
In recent years, more female doctors have been taking leave like the rest of society (nine months or one year). By personal choice, some still only take a few months off. The Régie de l’assurance maladie du Québec does not have official statistics on this reality. However, in the public debate, the issue of maternity leave often comes up to explain the problems of access to the system.
Pressure on the system
When a doctor goes on leave, her patients are redistributed among her team. This creates extra work in a context where pressure is already at its peak. However, for many, it is the system that must adapt to women and not the other way around.
“It’s not that there is no opening for maternity leave. But there is exasperation because the leave is not being replaced and that puts people in a difficult situation.”
– Dr. Mélanie Bélanger, gastroenterologist
Photo Ben Pelosse / JdeM
“It’s a social issue that goes beyond medicine,” she adds.
A researcher from Laval University even noted that surgeons tried to plan a maternity schedule so as not to harm the team.
“The fact that women carry babies is enough to create a career gap”
– Sophie Brière, professor of management at Laval University, specializing in the place of women in typically male fields.
Photo Courtesy Laval University
Recently asked whether doctors “work enough,” the president of the Fédération des médecins omnipraticiens du Québec said that the feminization of medicine generates 350 to 400 parental leaves per day.
Shorten holidays?
“I do not [ne] suggests that we should shorten vacations or put pressure on women. Quite the opposite, assures Dr. Marc-André Amyot, president. But in terms of workforce, we have to take it into account. It is not compiled by the ministry. I have been telling them for years: wake up!
“It’s not compiled by the ministry. I’ve been telling them for years: wake up!”
– Dr. Marc-André Amyot, president of the Federation of General Practitioners of Quebec.
Photo Joël Lemay / Agence QMI
Still, many doctors stress the importance of not giving up family for their careers. Many men are also taking more parental leave.
“It’s a false debate. It’s a generational issue, a quality of life issue,” concludes Dr. Murray.
Psychiatrist Karine Igartua sees this as a generational issue, stressing that medicine is no longer at the heart of the lives and activities of young doctors.
“They don’t buy the value of productivity in the same way and they are looking more for a balance in life.”
“We need to change medical culture: Work-life balance more difficult for women
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The famous work-life balance is a much greater source of stress for female doctors than for their male colleagues, notes an aid organization.
“It’s a problem in society. But among doctors, it’s more common because they generally work more hours,” notes Dr. Claude Johnson, medical advisor to the Quebec Physicians’ Assistance Program (PAMQ).
Two-thirds of requests for assistance from the PAMQ come from women. In addition to reasons related to their field (medical errors, exhaustion, lawsuits, etc.), work-family balance is often mentioned.
Heavy workload
“The medical world hasn’t changed that much. The workload is high and doctors are still expected to work as if they don’t have a family,” says Dr. Johnson.
In a couple of doctors, the woman still tends to do more household chores, estimates the woman who has worked at PAMQ since 2007.
“If we want to progress in this area, we need to change the medical culture.”
– Dr. Claude Johnson, Medical Advisor and Intervention Coordinator at the Quebec Physician Assistance Program
Photo COURTESY (PAMQ: Caroline Clouâtre)
Obviously, working 50 to 60 hours a week, on top of managing children, can quickly become a headache.
Some data on women in medicine in Canada
77% of doctors and students said they had experienced gender-related inequities during their studies or at work
Exhaustion rate:
Women are more likely to open up about their mental health issues (64% vs 52% of men)
Women are more often caregivers (child, parent):
Source: Canadian Women in Medicine Conference (2020) and Canadian Medical Association 2021 surveys.
“When we say that women earn less because they want to work less, that’s an easy statement. It’s because they have other obligations or obstacles that are different from their male colleagues,” adds Sophie Brière, a management professor at Laval University who specializes in the place of women in typically male-dominated fields.
Inflexible childcare hours
Furthermore, several doctors deplore the fact that on-call hours are not very flexible or not at all, even if they do not suit the reality of certain women who have family constraints.
For single mothers who are doctors, the mental load sometimes becomes unbearable.
“We’re going to tell them not to seek perfection. They should think about having a babysitter, help with meals, housework, which reduces the pressure. Women sometimes want to be perfect in their work and at home,” says Dr. Johnson.
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How is the rise of female doctors in Quebec influencing patient care and the healthcare system?
The Rise of Female Doctors in Quebec: Embracing Change and Challenging Traditional Thinking
As the number of female doctors in Quebec continues to surge, with predictions suggesting they will soon represent 70% of the workforce, the healthcare system is facing a significant shift. This feminization of medicine brings with it a unique set of challenges and opportunities, and it’s time for the healthcare network to adapt.
Empathy and Listening Skills: A Patient-Centric Approach
Having more female doctors can be a game-changer for patients, who often benefit from their empathetic and listening skills. However, this shift also means that the healthcare system must evolve to accommodate the needs of female physicians, particularly when it comes to maternity leave.
Maternity Leave: A Taboo Topic in Medicine
Traditionally, maternity leave has been a contentious issue in the medical profession, with some arguing that it contributes to a lack of access to doctors. However, many female physicians are speaking out against this notion, pointing out that maternity leave is a natural part of life and should not be stigmatized.
“I tell them: take your year!” says Dr. Ariane Murray, a mother of four. “Children only grow up once. The challenge is to set up an appropriate work organization. We have no choice, we have to move towards that.”
A Statistical Reality Check
According to Élyse Berger-Pelletier, an emergency physician in Lévis, the argument that maternity leave is a significant factor in the lack of access to doctors is simply not supported by statistics. “Women miss a maximum of two years out of 30 or 40 years of practice. It’s not relevant as an argument from a statistical point of view.”
Pressure on the System: A Call for Adaptation
When a doctor goes on maternity leave, her patients are redistributed among her team, creating extra work in an already pressured system. However, many female physicians argue that it’s the system that needs to adapt to their needs, rather than the other way around.
“It’s not that there is no opening for maternity leave. But there is exasperation because the leave is not being replaced, and that puts people in a difficult situation,” notes Dr. Mélanie Bélanger, a gastroenterologist.
The Bigger Picture: A Social Issue Beyond Medicine
The feminization of medicine raises important questions about the role of women in society and the need
