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Although many doctors believe they know when it’s time to hang up their stethoscopes, the American Medical Association says evidence proves otherwise. The nation’s largest association of physicians voted last week to develop criteria for assessing whether aging doctors are still competent to practice medicine once they reach the age of retirement and beyond.
Among the anticipated assessment guidelines for aging doctors will be an evaluation of physical and mental health as well as a review of the doctor’s treatment plan for patients. The AMA says the proposed evaluations could be triggered by a performance incident or by the doctor’s 70th birthday—an age where declines in competence have been found to increase.
According to a report released by the AMA’s Council on Medical Education, approximately 240,000 physicians over the age of 65 are still practicing. That number is four times higher than in 1975. The AMA supports doctors practicing beyond retirement age “as long as patient safety is not endangered” and says it views the guidelines as a proactive alternative to a mandatory retirement age or regulations imposed by outside organizations.
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