Criticizing emergency doctors for leaving patients in the lurch

While the CMAJ study highlights genuine burnout, critics warn that the exodus of emergency doctors is making a bad situation worse for patients. Every physician who leaves or cuts hours adds to the burden on remaining staff, creating a vicious cycle that erodes care quality. Patients—especially in rural areas—are already facing longer waits, ambulance diversions, and temporary ER closures. Critics argue that doctors have a professional and ethical obligation to stay and advocate for change from within, rather than abandoning the system when it is most vulnerable. They point to countries like the UK, where similar staffing crises have been met with collective bargaining and policy engagement, not mass departures. The departure of experienced physicians also means a loss of mentorship for younger doctors, which will have long-term effects on training and recruitment. The focus, they contend, should be on fixing the system collaboratively—not walking away. While burnout is real, the solution lies in better working conditions, not in leaving the very patients who depend on emergency care.