---
title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: We have turned doctors into gods and…"
description: "\"We have turned doctors into gods and worship their deity by offering up our bodies and our souls - not to mention our worldly goods. And yet paradoxica..."
image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/3db/erich-segal-12086_addiction_we-have-turned-doctors-into-gods-and-wor_530816.png"
---

#  We have turned doctors into gods and worship their deity…

![“We have turned doctors into gods and worship their deity by offering up our bodies and our souls - not to mention our worldly goods. And yet paradoxically, they are the most vulnerable of human beings. Their suicide rate is eight times the national average. Their percentage of drug addiction is…” quote by Erich Segal](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/3db/erich-segal-12086_addiction_we-have-turned-doctors-into-gods-and-wor_530816.png)   [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/3db/erich-segal-12086_addiction_we-have-turned-doctors-into-gods-and-wor_530816.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/3db/erich-segal-12086_addiction_we-have-turned-doctors-into-gods-and-wor_530816.png)

> “We have turned doctors into gods and worship their deity by offering up our bodies and our souls - not to mention our worldly goods. And yet paradoxically, they are the most vulnerable of human beings. Their suicide rate is eight times the national average. Their percentage of drug addiction is one hundred times higher And because they are painfully aware that they cannot live up to our expectations, their anguish is unquantifiably intense. They have aptly been called 'wounded healers.' " ~ Barney Livingston, M.D. (Doctors, 1989)”

[Erich Segal](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/erich-segal/)

## About This Quote

This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation.

Physicians are revered yet face extreme vulnerability, high suicide and addiction rates, reflecting the paradox of their role.

**In simple terms:** Doctors are worshipped but suffer greatly.

Key Takeaway

Address systemic pressures on medical professionals.

Themes

healthcare vulnerability mental health burnout paradox

Mood

somber concerned

Type

analytical advocacy

When to use this quote

- hospital environments
- medical training
- policy reform

Key Concepts

wounded healer archetype systemic stress suicide risk

Questions to Reflect On

- What support systems can reduce physician burnout?
- How does societal expectation affect doctors' wellbeing?

A Different Perspective

Stigma may prevent doctors from seeking help.

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[Addiction](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/addiction/) [Anguish](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/anguish/) [Body](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/body/) [Deities](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/deities/) [Doctors](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/doctors/) [Drug](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/drug/) [Drug addiction](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/drug-addiction/) [Expectations](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/expectations/) [Healer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/healer/) [Healers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/healers/) [Humans](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/humans/) [Intense](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/intense/) [Medicine](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/medicine/) [Percentages](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/percentages/) [Soul](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/soul/) [Suicide](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/suicide/) [Worship](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/worship/) [Wounded](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/wounded/)

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