A father is urging for a Senate inquiry into the rising number of doctor suicides following the tragic death of his son. The call comes amid growing concerns about workplace safety and the demanding schedules faced by junior medical staff.

The father, who wishes to remain anonymous, lost his son, David, a 30-year-old registrar in Newcastle, in December 2020. David took his own life while on sick leave, just hours after a phone call regarding his return to work. "It's awful, it's heartbreaking, this wonderful young man was no longer with us," the father said.

An investigation has confirmed that David was one of at least 13 doctors who have died by suicide in New South Wales, Victoria, Queensland, and the Australian Capital Territory since 2016. David had a well-managed mood disorder but faced immense pressure from his job, including excessive hours and limited leave. His father claims that David experienced retaliation after filing a complaint about patient care at Calvary Mater Newcastle hospital ten months before his death.

According to his father, David believed his complaint was confidential but faced repercussions. "He was told, 'You now have a black mark against you and you've ruined your career,'" the father recounted. Following this, David felt isolated by some superiors.

After being rotated to John Hunter Hospital in mid-2020, David requested annual leave but was denied, despite having over 11 weeks accrued. He began stress leave in early November 2020 but felt guilty about the burden his absence placed on colleagues. He returned to work a week before Christmas, but his shift was changed from day to night, contrary to his doctor's recommendations.

"The system put more and more pressure on his brain and something broke," his father said. David started sick leave again, and within three days, he received two calls from hospital staff about returning to work. He died shortly after the second call.

The situation worsened when David received an email from a hospital staff member on the day of his death, assuring him that there would be no more inappropriate rostering. His father responded, stating, "Yeah, well, there will be no more inappropriate roster or any sort of roster because within an hour and a half of calling, David was dead."

In May 2021, six months after David's death, the general manager of John Hunter Hospital sent a letter to his father apologizing for any incidents that may have affected David's wellbeing.

The tragedy has prompted discussions among David's friends and colleagues, including Jennifer Martin, president of the Royal Australasian College of Physicians. "To see the effect on the family was just crippling, and it was almost just a light-bulb moment," she said. Martin emphasized the need for change in the treatment of junior doctors, despite facing threats to her own job for advocating on their behalf.

In February, young doctors in the Hunter New England Health District protested after a human resources official referred to them as "marshmallows" in an email. This incident, dubbed "marshmallowgate," led David's father to speak out about his son's death, highlighting ongoing issues with rostering, leave, and workplace bullying.

Of the 13 doctor suicides verified, five occurred in the Hunter New England Health District. Research commissioned by the Australian Health Practitioner Regulation Agency found that 16 practitioners took their own lives between January 2018 and December 2021.

Dr. Eliza Milliken, a Hunter-based doctor, called for safer workplaces and more support for junior doctors. "I have directly known I think it's six doctors who ended their own lives and I know of many more who I didn't work with or know directly," she said.

Concerns about excessive work hours have been raised, with reports of junior medical officers working 12 days straight or being on call for 72 hours. Tom Morrison, junior vice president of the Australian Salaried Medical Officers Federation of NSW, expressed concern about the impact of fatigue on patient care.

David's father is advocating for a Senate inquiry into the issue, stating, "That then puts the onus on the politicians who decide on the funding for the system … it makes them change." Dr. Morrison supports this call, emphasizing that the privilege of being a doctor should not come at the cost of one's life.

Professor Martin noted that a Senate inquiry would provide protection for those willing to speak out about their experiences. Federal Health Minister Mark Butler did not comment on the inquiry request but stated that the government is working on reforms to improve workplace culture and reduce burnout among health professionals.

In response to the situation, both Calvary Mater Newcastle and John Hunter Hospital issued statements highlighting their commitment to improving support and working conditions for junior doctors since David's death.

The ongoing dialogue surrounding the mental health of medical professionals underscores the urgent need for systemic changes in the healthcare industry.