# 2346
It's a teaser article in today's Strait's Times, and we are promised more details tomorrow.
It sounds very similar to another story we heard earlier this summer out of Australia, where a limited survey of doctors showed 3 out of 10 reluctant to work during a pandemic.
So I'm not sure if this is a rehash of an earlier story, or a new poll. I suppose we'll learn tomorrow. In any event, here is the teaser:
Oct 1, 2008
Treat patients in pandemic? Some GPs may quit: Poll
They fear being infected, but in fact, doctors will be among the first to get any vaccines
NOT all doctors are willing to be in the line of fire in a flu pandemic.
A survey of general practitioners (GPs) and polyclinic doctors, who would be in the front lines of a massive infection here, found that almost three in 10 doctors felt they should not have to look after patients at the height of a pandemic.
One in eight would stop work to avoid the risk of catching a virus that could prove deadly, with some willing to quit their jobs rather than treat patients.
Read Salma Khalik's full story in Thursday's edition of The Straits Times.
No one should be shocked by this revelation.
Doctors, nurses, and other health care professionals are not required to risk their lives, and the lives of their families, in order to treat others. It is a quaint and noble idea, but it is not part of their oath.
Interestingly, 30% is roughly the same percentage of nurses who have expressed a similar hesitancy in the allnurses.com pandemic poll that I've highlighted in past blogs including here, here, here, and here.
There are now more than 330 comments, and almost 1400 respondents to the poll. Every pandemic planner, nursing director, and hospital administrator needs to spend a couple of hours and read these comments.
How many doctors and nurses, and their support staff, will continue to show up and work during a pandemic will depend on many factors.
The severity of the pandemic will be a major factor of course. The CAR (Case Attack Rate) and the CFR (Case Fatality Ratio).
But equally important will be the availability of PPE's (Personal Protective Equipment), the availability and effectiveness of antivirals (for HCW's and their families), and the security and safety of the workplace.
Facilities that do not plan, in advance, to deal with these issues are likely to find fewer of their employees willing to work during a crisis.
