Medscape: Oncologists Lower on Happiness Scale Than Most Specialists

Oncologists Lower on Happiness Scale Than Most Specialists
 
March 22, 2011 — Treating cancer patients for a living might not make for the happiest of specialists, according to the Medscape Physician Lifestyle Report: 2012.
When asked how happy are with their lives outside of work, the average happiness score for oncologists was 3.89 out of 5.00 — slightly less than the relatively cheerful happiness score of 3.96 for all physicians who responded to the survey. "With a score of 3.89, oncologists were tied with plastic and general surgeons for twentieth place in the list of 25 specialties surveyed," write survey author Carol Peckham, director of editorial development, and colleagues from Medscape.............

          ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ 

"Terminal Illness?
Perhaps like everyone else, oncologists aren't sure what they would do if told they had a terminal illness.
Some 52% said they would chose quality over length of life, but responses were decidedly age-dependant; 37% of those 31 to 40 years of age said they would treat their disease aggressively, compared with only about 10% of those 60 years of age.
Spirituality and religious views also played a role. More than 52% of oncologists without a belief system and 56% of those with beliefs but no active practice report that they would choose quality of life over extending life. Slightly fewer (49%) of those with active religious practice report that they would prefer palliative care over lengthening their life."