Doctor burnout: One in two suffering - specialist told patients would die if she took a sick day 6 May, 2021 05:00 PM 6 minutes to read One doctor described wanting to die after bosses repeatedly told her patients would die if she took time off work. Photo / Supplied One doctor described wanting to die after bosses repeatedly told her patients would die if she took time off work. Photo / Supplied Warning: This content may be distressing for some readers. Medical workloads are so bad thousands of doctors across the country are severely burnt out- to the point one says she became suicidal after repeatedly being told by her bosses that patients would die if she took time off.