Reflections on, and responses to, managerial adverse reactions to healthcare advocacy by psychiatrists and trainees

Objective: For psychiatrists and trainees, to reflect upon adverse managerial reactions to healthcare advocacy about patient care and safety, drawing upon examples from general healthcare settings, and to share approaches to addressing these reactions. Conclusions: Psychiatrists and trainees engaging in healthcare advocacy may face adverse responses from healthcare management, with personal and professional consequences. Advocates need to consider counterstrategies to negative actions by management that may include workplace incivility, bullying and harassment. Health advocacy is more effective within a network of peers, patients and the broader community, including medico-political professional organisations, such as the Australian Medical Association, Royal Australian and New Zealand College of Psychiatrists, and Unions. These organisations should advocate openness to doctors highlighting healthcare safety and quality, as well as prevention of workplace bullying.