Over 1,500 physicians demand public inquiry after 5 doctor suicides in Quebec
Posted September 21, 2026 3:33 pm.
Doctors are calling for a systematic public inquiry into physician suicides in Quebec. More than 1,500 doctors signed a letter sent on Sept. 18 to Quebec’s Chief Coroner.
The investigation’s primary objective would be to determine whether certain professional, organizational, or systemic factors may have contributed to suicide deaths among doctors. It would also examine whether there are barriers when doctors seek help, such as concerns about confidentiality or their right to practice.
Dr. Jean-Paul Brutus, a plastic surgeon, is one of the letter’s signatories. According to him, excessive workloads and the denigration of doctors—commonly referred to in Quebec as “doctor-bashing”—are among the factors leading to psychological distress.
He laments that for several years now, various governments have singled out “doctors and blamed them for all the failures of the public system.”
“There’s more and more medical and administrative pressure, more and more patients, and fewer and fewer resources to help us do the work we need to do,” Brutus continues. “There’s growing dissatisfaction among the public because they can’t get the care they need—and rightly so. And unfortunately, doctors and healthcare providers—not just doctors, I want to emphasize that—are on the front lines when it comes to dealing with patient dissatisfaction.”
Dr. Patrick Bernier is a general practitioner in the Quebec City area. He did not sign the letter, but says it’s not because he disagrees. He serves, among other roles, on the committee on workplace well-being in general practitioner’s federation (FMOQ).
In his view, this goes beyond the medical profession; the issue is societal. “I think these are people, members of society, who are suffering, and it just so happens that they’re doctors. That said, will they see fewer patients?” asks Bernier. To answer, he invokes the saying that the cobbler’s children have no shoes. “I think that’s very much the case with doctors.”
As in the letter, Bernier calls for improved data collection to better understand the multifaceted factors contributing to suicide deaths among doctors, as well as in other professions.
In Quebec, every suicide death is investigated by a coroner, regardless of the deceased’s profession. These investigations aim to shed light on the causes and circumstances of the deaths. Coroners’ reports are made public at the end of the process.
However, according to the signatories, this data is not detailed enough to determine whether there has been an increase in suicides among physicians. “The lack of public, centralized, and sufficiently detailed data in Quebec prevents us from adequately measuring the scope and evolution of the phenomenon,” they write.
5 suicides in 5 months
Bernier speaks of a disconnect between what doctors would like to do and what they are actually able to do. “When we feel that much of our time is wasted on things other than caring for people and saving lives, it ultimately leads first to frustration […] then to a desire for change, and finally to the realization that we don’t have the power to bring about that change,” he laments.
“Since March 2026, five deaths of Quebec doctors reported as suicides have been brought to our attention,” the letter states. “These deaths involved general practitioners and specialists from various regions of Quebec.”
The letter cites the National Physician Health Survey conducted in 2025 by the Canadian Medical Association to highlight that the situation is cause for concern. According to these data, 46 per cent of the physicians and residents surveyed reported high levels of burnout.
This survey, to which approximately 3,300 physicians at various stages of their careers (practicing physicians, residents, and postdoctoral fellows) responded, indicates that 34 per cent have had suicidal thoughts at some point in their lives and 11% in the 12 months preceding the survey.
In an email sent to La Presse Canadienne, the Coroner’s Office stated that it is “aware of the situation raised; investigations into the deaths in question are already underway, and a thorough analysis of the request for a public inquiry has begun. At this time, it is too early to comment on whether such a public inquiry will be held.”
If you are thinking about suicide or are concerned about a loved one, support workers are available at any time by calling 1-866-APPELLE (1-866-277-3553), by text message (535353), or via chat at suicide.ca.
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The Canadian Press’s health coverage is supported by a partnership with the Canadian Medical Association. The Canadian Press is solely responsible for this journalistic content.
–This report by La Presse Canadienne was translated by CityNews
