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'Aussie doctors don't trust other doctors'

July 03 2003 at 05:30AM

Sydney - About two-thirds of doctors in Australia don't have a doctor themselves.

They either write prescriptions for themselves when they are sick or refer themselves to a specialist.

Only 39 percent have sufficient faith in their colleagues to sit in another doctor's waiting room, a survey by the Australian Doctor magazine has found.

The findings are upsetting the Australian Medical Association (AMA), which urged its members to place greater store in their own health and have a little more faith in their colleagues.

One study found most doctors were reasonably good at looking after themselves. Most were within the right weight range and most were up to date with influenza and hepatitis B vaccinations.

But AMA officer Robyn Napier said survey results made doctors look either stoic or omnipotent.

"Too many medical practitioners think they can cope," she told Australian Doctor. "We know that for many, even when they have signs and symptoms they know are glaringly obvious, their attitude is 'it doesn't happen to me, it will go away'". - Sapa-DPA

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