It is time to investigate all work-related suicides; it is an obligation and a public health issue

Waters S, McKee M. Ofsted: a case of official negligence. Br Med J 2023; 381: 1147. doi: 10.1136/bmj.p1147 DOI: https://doi.org/10.1136/bmj.p1147

Dyer C. Practice that suspended GP who later died by suicide used ‘a sledgehammer to crack a nut,’ says coroner. Br Med J 2017; 357: j3141. doi: 10.1136/bmj.j3141 DOI: https://doi.org/10.1136/bmj.j3141

Cavendish Press (Manchester). GP trainee died by suicide after fearing GMC suspension. Pulse; 2015. Available from: https://www.pulsetoday.co.uk/news/regulation/gp-trainee-died-by-suicide-after-fearing-gmc-suspension/ [cited 1 July 2023].

Horsfall S. Doctors who commit suicide while under GMC fitness to practice investigation. GMC; 2014. Available from: https://www.gmc-uk.org/-/media/documents/internal-review-into-suicide-in-ftp-processes_pdf-59088696.pdf [cited 1 July 2023].

General Medical Council. Fitness to practise proceedings by year. Online GMC Reports 2021. Available from: https://data.gmc-uk.org/gmcdata/home/#/reports/Fitness%20to%20Practise/Volumes/report [cited 2 July 2023].

Evans D. Suicides in the UK: 2013 Registrations. Office for National Statistics; 2015. Available from: https://www.ons.gov.uk/peoplepopulationandcommunity/birthsdeathsandmarriages/deaths5/bulletins/suicidesintheunitedkingdom/2015-02-19 [cited 2 July 2023].

Ministry of Justice. Self-inflicted deaths in prison custody. GOV.UK 2021. Available from: https://www.ethnicity-facts-figures.service.gov.uk/crime-justice-and-the-law/prison-and-custody-incidents/self-inflicted-deaths-in-prison-custody/latest#download-the-data [cited 4 July 2023].

Casey D, Choong KA. Suicide whilst under GMC’s fitness to practice investigation: were those deaths preventable? J Forensic Legal Med 2016; 37: 22–7. doi: 10.1016/j.jflm.2015.10.002 DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jflm.2015.10.002

Andolo D. NHS Investigation linked to GP’s suicide. The Guardian; 2005 Available from: https://www.theguardian.com/society/2005/mar/10/primarycare.uknews [cited 4 July 2023].

Wibble P. Physician suicide letters (1st ed.). Eugene Oregon: P. Wibble; 2016. ISBN 9780985710323.

Bolakale-Rufai IK. Depression and suicidal ideation among medical students. J Global Med 2022; 2(1): e87. doi: 10.51496/jogm.v2.87 DOI: https://doi.org/10.51496/jogm.v2.87

Najda M. Ethics of labour and mobbing in the perspective of moral philosophy and psychology (PhD Thesis). Faculty of Philosophy and Sociology. University of Warsaw, Poland (In Polish); 2013. Available from: https://depotuw.ceon.pl/handle/item/162 [cited 17 July 2023].

Kawton K. Suicide in doctors while under fitness to practice investigation. Br Med J 2015; 350: h813. doi: 10.1136/bmj.h813 DOI: https://doi.org/10.1136/bmj.h813

Anderson JG, Abrahamson K. Your health care may kill you: medical errors. Stud Health Technol Inform 2017; 234: 13–17. PMID: 28186008

General Medical Council. Fitness to practice statistics 2020. Online GMC Reports. Available from: https://www.gmc-uk.org/-/media/documents/fitness-to-practise-statistics-report-2020_pdf-87198195.pdf [cited 5 July 2023].

General Medical Council. Fitness to practice statistics 2017. Online GMC Reports. Available from: https://www.gmc-uk.org/-/media/documents/fitness-to-practise-statistics-report-2017_pdf-76024327.pdf [cited 5 July 2023].

Criminal Law – liability for physical harm – trial court convicts defendant of involuntary manslaughter based on encouragement of suicide. – Commonwealth v Carter, No 15YO0001NE (Mass. Juv. Ct. June 16, 2017). Harv Law Rev 2018; 131: 918–25.

Gold KJ, Sen A, Schwenk TL. Details on suicide among US physicians: data from the National Violent Death Reporting System. Gen Hosp Psychiatry 2013; 35(1): 45–9. doi: 10.1016/j.genhosppsych.2012.08.005 DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.genhosppsych.2012.08.005

Bingham, Scott, Walker, Mance, Neuberger. Judgements – Corr (Administratix of The Estate of Thomas Corr (Deceased)) v Ibc Vehicles Limited Appellate Committee. UKHL 13; 2008. Available from: https://publications.parliament.uk/pa/ld200708/ldjudgmt/jd080227a/corr-1.htm [cited 27 July 2023].

European Court of Human Rights. Guide on Article 2 of the European Convention on Human Rights: right to life. 2022. Available from: https://www.echr.coe.int/documents/d/echr/Guide_Art_2_ENG [cited 30 Jul 2023].

Shepka P. NHS trust to review all suicides since 2017. BBC News; 2023. Available from: https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-cambridgeshire-66260110 [cited 31 July 2023].

Rozakis C, Vajić N, Steiner E, Hajiyev K, Spielmann D, Malinverni G, et al. Case of Mikayil Mammadov v. Azerbaijan. 2010, no 4762/05. ECtHR Strasbourg. Available from: https://hudoc.echr.coe.int/eng#{%22itemid%22:[%22001-96337%22]} [cited 31 July 2023].

Health and Safety Executive. Types of reportable incidents; Deaths and injuries. 2023. Available from: https://www.hse.gov.uk/riddor/reportable-incidents.htm [cited 31 July 2023].

Waters S, Karanikolos M, McKee M. When work kills. J Public Mental Health 2016; 15(4): 229–34. doi: 10.1108/JPMH-06-2016-0026 DOI: https://doi.org/10.1108/JPMH-06-2016-0026

Greiner BA, Arensman E. The role of work in suicidal behavior – uncovering priorities for research and prevention. Scan J Work Environ Health 2022; 48(6): 419–24. doi: 10.5271/sjweh.4051 DOI: https://doi.org/10.5271/sjweh.4051

Diard PR. France Telecom suicides: angry defendants at start of appeal hearing. Le Monde; 2022. Available from: https://www.lemonde.fr/en/france/article/2022/05/12/france-telecom-suicides-angry-defendants-at-start-of-appeal-hearing_5983270_7.html [cited 6 August 2023].

Seale K, Scott-Moncrieff L, Scott D, Simpson B. Independent investigation into the management of the Trust’s disciplinary process resulting in the dismissal of Mr Amin Abdullah. Verita; 2018. Available from: https://www.imperial.nhs.uk/-/media/website/about-us/publications/verita-report-august-2018.pdf?rev=7e227f300ffe4a30a63403b9d1ed1536&sc_lang=en&hash=01CFD82C8003B4E04ED64A9F72A3B5EF [cited 6 August 2023].

General Medical Council. Supporting vulnerable doctors. Report on doctors who have died while under investigation or during a period of monitoring. 2021. Available from: https://www.gmc-uk.org/-/media/documents/doctors-who-have-died-while-under-investigation-or-during-a-period-of-monitoring-2018-2020--89398370.pdf [cited 1 August 2023].

World Health Organization. Suicide worldwide in 2019: global health estimates. Available from: https://www.who.int/publications/i/item/9789240026643 [cited 7 August 2023].

Broughton. Mr T Reuser v University Hospitals Birmingham NHS Foundation Trust; 2018. UKET/1303554/2017. Available from: https://www.bailii.org/uk/cases/UKET/2018/1303554_2017.html [cited 7 August 2023].

Dyer C. Trust boss gets GMC warning for failing to mention that doctor he referred had raised concerns. BMJ 2021; 374: n1961. doi: 10.1136/bmj.n1961 DOI: https://doi.org/10.1136/bmj.n1961

University Hospitals Birmingham NHS Foundation Trust. Freedom of Information Request: 2141 2022/23. Available from: https://minhalexander.files.wordpress.com/2022/05/uhb-referrals-to-the-general-medical-council-foi-2141.pdf [cited7 August 2023].

Perrin B. Tragic Queen Elizabeth Hospital doctor’s final damning words shared by parents: Dr Vaishnavi Kumar took her own life after feeling ‘belittled’ at work. 2023. Available at https://www.birminghammail.co.uk/news/midlands-news/tragic-queen-elizabeth-hospital-doctors-26026346 [cited 7 August 2023].

Rayment S, Collis E. Covid hero Birmingham hospital doctor under ‘great pressure before taking own life’. 2023. Available from https://www.birminghammail.co.uk/news/midlands-news/birmingham-hospital-doctor-under-great-24263145 [cited 7 August 2023].

Richardson A. Second doctor at Queen Elizabeth Hospital dies in tragic circumstances. 2018. Available from: https://www.birminghammail.co.uk/news/midlands-news/second-doctor-queen-elizabeth-hospital-15183117 [cited 7 August 2023].

Horne L, David J. Obituary – Inigo Tolosa. Psycho-Oncology 2015; 24(11): 1586. doi: 10.1002/pon.3979 DOI: https://doi.org/10.1002/pon.3979

Townsend E. Three investigations launched into trust beset by bullying and safety scandals. Health Service Journal. Available from: https://www.hsj.co.uk/university-hospitals-birmingham-nhs-foundation-trust/three-investigations-launched-into-trust-beset-by-bullying-and-safety-scandals/7033879.article?mkt_tok=OTM2LUZSWi03MTkAAAGIlfVRdiLSxzLCbzgaEoDPUZf1YobKdhm5A9qstz-rvlDeTpKO4yzbUPlqQSV8ajoOmth29LdbcSlX-Wh-HMXs_X7WGRa_3xjSYZlupQbRMdenaqM [cited 10 August 2023].

Westhues K. Suicide at McGill. Available from: http://www.kwesthues.com/suicidemcgill.htm [cited 8 August 2023].

Costa J-P, Fuhrmann W, Kūris P, Tulkens F, Greve HS, Ugrekhelidze M, et al. The case of Keenan v. The United Kingdom No. 27229/95. 3rd April 2001. ECtHR Strasbourg. Available from: https://hudoc.echr.coe.int/eng#{%22itemid%22:[%22001-59365%22]} [cited 13 August 2023].

Hanson LLM, Pentti J, Nordentoft M, Xu T, Rugulies R, Madsen IEH, et al. Association of workplace violence and bullying with later suicide risk: a multicohort study and meta-analysis of published data. 2023. Lancet Public Health 2023; 8(7): E494–503. doi: 10.1016/S2468-2667(23)00096-8 DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/S2468-2667(23)00096-8

Reynolds E. Criminalising people who attempt suicide is unjust and dangerous. The Guardian; 2019. Available from: https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2019/jun/04/suicide-attempt-criminalised-unjust-dangerous [cited 13 August 2023].

Khoo S. Academic mobbing: hidden health hazard at workplace. Malays Fam Phys 2010; 5(2): 61–7.

Leymann H. Mobbing and psychological terror at workplaces. Violence Vict 1990; 5(2): 119–26. doi: 10.1891/0886-6708.5.2.119 DOI: https://doi.org/10.1891/0886-6708.5.2.119

Huntoon LR. Tactics characteristic of Sham peer review. J Am Phys Surg 2009; 14(3): 64–6.

Kinchin I, Doran CM. The economic cost of suicide and non-fatal suicide behavior in the Australian Workforce and the potential impact of a workplace suicide prevention strategy. 2017. Int J Environ Res Public Health 2017; 14940: E347. doi: 10.3390/ijerph14040347 DOI: https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph14040347