Regulatory Approaches to Addressing Cognitive Decline in Aging Physicians

Explicit policies addressing cognitive decline in aging physicians are uncommon across G7 countries. Marked differences exist between medicine and other safety-critical professions, highlighting ethical, legal, and practical tensions surrounding age-based assessments for physicians. Efforts to integrate age-based assessments in medicine should be viewed within the broader context of population safety and public trust, emphasizing that cognitive screening can serve as a supportive measure for physicians and their patients rather than a punitive tool. Further empirical and policy work is needed to inform equitable and evidence-based strategies to address cognition among aging physicians.

Corresponding Author: Nathan M. Stall, MD, PhD, Division of General Internal Medicine and Geriatrics, Mount Sinai Hospital, 600 University Ave, Ste 18-268, Toronto, ON M5G 1X5, Canada (nathan.stall@sinaihealth.ca).

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