For Clinicians to Do Less, Organizations Must Do More

Abstract

Medicine is defined by doing; however, bias, error, and burnout are potential consequences of speed and constant activity. On an individual level, slowing down might reduce bias; resting might reduce error; mindfulness might reduce burnout. Despite its benefits, stillness can be an unattainable privilege for some due to systems of power, including gender, race, and capitalism. In response, institutions must confront these systems and support individual clinicians through radical acts of solidarity because, just as we have fought to make doing-speaking, learning, and working-equal opportunity, so must we ensure that "non-doing" belongs to everyone.