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CMAJ
CMAJ - November 17, 1998JAMC - le 17 novembre 1998

Let older MDs solve military's physician shortage

CMAJ 1998;159:1243

One reason why the armed forces is short of physicians, which was not explored in Nancy Robb's recent article,1 is the military's regulation concerning compulsory retirement. At the moment doctors are forced out of service at age 55, at the height of their experience. Compare this with the use of military physicians in the US, where age presents no such obstacle.

It is unjust to blame the attrition rate for Canada's military doctors on their rates of pay. There are former military physicians who would like to serve their country, notwithstanding reduced financial entitlements, but are prevented from doing so by an outdated policy on compulsory retirement.

Emile Berger, MD
President
Defence Medical Association of Canada
Quebec Chapter
Montreal, Que.

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Reference
  1. Robb N. Armed forces worried as physicians flee from military life. CMAJ 1998;159(3):263.