Doctors need ‘debriefing after trauma’

General practitioners should be “debriefed” after a trauma such as the death of a patient by suicide, a doctor’s conference heard yesterday.

Monaghan GP IIlona Duffy said there were six suicide patients in her practice over the last five years.

Speaking at the Irish Medical Organisation (IMO) conference in Killarney, Co Kerry, Dr Duffy said she had “personal dealings” with all of the patients who had taken their lives.