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Why Doctors Become Serial Killers

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WHY DOCTORS HAVE BECOME KILLERS SINCE THE 20TH CENTURY

Considering the trouble they go through to become doctors, it is surprising that some of them end up becoming killers. The question we all ask is why? Like all/most serial killers, these doctors are psychopaths with evil within them waiting to be released whenever an opportunity arises16. Going to medical school and gaining valuable skills gains them this opportunity. A pathologist Keith Simpson said " Doctors are in a particularly good position to commit murder. Dangerous drugs an powerful poisons lie in their professional bags or in their surgery.18" They have the power, tools and the intelligence to plan their murders. Some, for instance H.H Holmes start showing signs of mental …show more content…
During the 18th and 19th century medical training primarily involved learning by observing a qualified physician16. In 1910, 25 years after H H Holmes was hanged the Flexner report led to the implementation of strict regulations in US medical schools15. The Apothecaries Act published in 1815 in the UK required all doctors to hold a medical degree in order to practice medicine16. During Shipman's day, GPs were independent practitioners and were only accountable to the GMC. After Shipman, clinical governance which had been introduced in 1997 took stronger grounds . More clinical audits were performed to identify errors and review systems. Today, GPs have to report deaths any significant incidents to the Care Quality Commission (CQC). Medical Coroners have to work with judicial coroners to certify deaths and unexpected deaths have to be investigated by the coronial …show more content…
A survey has claimed that incidents seem to be increasing since 1970 14. However patients still have great trust for health care professionals, after all only a handful of doctors and nurses have abused this trust. It's also because of strong health systems which overseas the duties of health care professionals and ensures that they are accountable for their actions. It is clear that most reforms that have occurred since the practice of medicine began have been in order to increase patient safety.

BIOGRAPHY

1.Bunyan N. The Killing Fields of Harold Shipman. The Telegraph. 2001; [cited 10 October 2015]

2. Boy W. JANE TOPPAN, AN EXTRAORDINARY CASE OF MORAL INSANITY. New York Times. 1904; page 31.

3.http://www.biography.com/people/hh-holmes-307622 Accessed 12/10/2015

4.Larson E. The devil in the white city. New York: Crown Publishers; 2003.

5. Martin J, Lynn B. The Master of the Murder Castle | Harper's Magazine - Part 2 [Internet]. Harper's magazine. 2015 ; pages

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