Key reciprocal obligations owed to doctors
| 1. | Adequate indemnity insurance and licencing arrangements to be provided by medical bodies; this is not to prevent doctors acting badly without impunity, but to ensure that the extraordinary contextual matters are taken into account. |
| 2. | Personal protective equipment, training and clinical supervision to be provided by employers – Training and supervision may be particularly needed for those acting outside their normal role. |
| 3. | Sustainable working hours and adequate rest to be mandated by governing bodies and enforced by employers. |
| 4. | Priority testing for those who develop symptoms – The highest priority testing should be for inpatients or those in high-risk settings (eg, elderly care homes) in which the test result changes clinical outcome, but doctors should be prioritised above other community testing. |
| 5. | Access to best available medical care if they get sick – This could include priority (but not guaranteed) access to intensive care units for suspected occupationally acquired COVID-19. |
| 6. | Sufficient sick pay for occupationally acquired illness or burnout – Not limited to COVID-19 infection but to other causes of ill health caused by the wider environment. |
| 7. | Consideration of wider social factors – This includes employer obligations to provide childcare, other caring responsibilities and transport to work if affected by public transport closures or increased hours. |
| 8. | Acknowledgement of contribution and service by employers, governments, media and the public – This includes for extra hours worked and avoiding making doctors scapegoats for unavoidable bad consequences of the pandemic. |
| 9. | Postpandemic mental health support and leave to be provided by employers – Workers risk suffering long-term effects and burnout and likely will have not been allowed annual leave during the pandemic. Postpandemic annual leave may need to be prioritised over returning elective services to normal. |