Fatherhood and medicine.
Having children will inevitably, to a greater or lesser degree, have a negative impact on a woman doctor's career progression. It is a major challenge to create a working environment which optimises her career progression, and at the same time enables optimal parental care for her children. This is a multi-faceted issue, but the quality of childcare is rarely discussed, except in terms of nursery places and tax deductions. The perspective of the father, and his potential contribution to the sustenance of his wife's career and the welfare of his children, are rarely considered. The woman doctor's perspective as a mother is also put to one side. The major burden of childcare for the foreseeable future will fall on the mother, but the key issue (for parents and administrators) is that the period of intensive childcare is limited and, once complete, both careers can proceed at full pace.
Fabre
John
J
Department of Hepatology and Transplantation, King's College London School of Medicine, London. john.fabre@kcl.ac.uk
D000328:Adult; D002322:Career Mobility; D002648:Child; D002654:Child Care; D005220:Fathers; D005260:Female; D005783:Gender Identity; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D016524:Parental Leave; D010820:Physicians; D010822:Physicians, Women