he Medical Assurance Society (MAS) and MPS

have long been aware that receiving and dealing with a complaint is a stressful experience for a doctor. In the past, MPS has provided counselling services on an ad hoc basis, when the member’s stress has been clearly apparent. MAS has also funded psychiatric and psychological assessments as well as counselling for its members when stress prevented them working as usual. MAS was also aware that a significant proportion of those doctors were suffering from the impact of a complaint. Why so much stress? The Health and Disability Commissioner has suggested that doctors should feel less concerned about complaints as many are being resolved more quickly and fewer complaints are being referred on to the Director o