1. Chris Ellis is a general practitioner from Pietermaritzburg and
writes the column “The Unconstant Gardener” on the back
page of Diversions. His new book is called Out of Chaos
comes a Dancing Star. The title is taken from a quotation by
the philosopher, Friedrich Nietzsche.
The book is about burnout in doctors and is written from
his experiences as a facilitator of groups of doctors with
burnout. In these pages you will meet the Hamster-in-the-
Wheel Doctor, The Martyr Doctor and The Torschluss Panick
Doctor as well as the Mr God Complex of the doctor, who is
adored by patients and nurses at work but when he returns
home he find that the atmosphere of respect is not
perpetuated and that he is a mere mortal and ends up at the
kitchen sink.
You will also find the Wounded Healer and a chapter on
the secret illness of depression in doctors and the isolation
and loneliness that can occur in medical practice. Not all is
doom and gloom and there are two chapters on the pursuit
of money and status by the doctor and some possible
remedies such as downshifting and voluntary simplicity.
Along the journey the doctor-doctor relationship
becomes severely strained by difficult partners and
intransigent departmental members but help is at hand with
suggestions and negotiating skills and if all else fails then
diversions | AUTUMN 2015 | ???? | AUTUMN 2015 | diversions
using plan B (plan B is to speak the truth
and leave the room immediately).
The doctor’s spouse features strongly
in practice life and comments are
recorded from doctors spouses’
workshops where no holes were barred.
The text is peppered with quotations
from philosophers and quotes from group
participants.
This book is written for doctors who
are experiencing the stress and burnout
of modern medical practice.
Available from AOSIS Publishers at
orders@openjournals.net or from
www.kalahari.com/books.
Out of Chaos
Comes a
Dancing Star
Notes on Professional Burnout
Author: Dr Chris Ellis