A guide for medical practitioners transitioning to an encore career or retirement

In reply: We thank Hawson1 for highlighting the structural challenges that older doctors may face in transitioning to retirement. Several of the suggestions are worthy of further exploration.

We certainly agree that, apart from service provision, older doctors provide wisdom and bring a wealth of life experience, which benefit patients and the wider society.2 Any proposals for older doctors continuing to work should be balanced with certain ethical principles. One, the individual should be aware of their personal limits and potential fallibility, in particular adapt their practice to any physical and cognitive changes associated with ageing. Two, it is essential that the public continues to retain confidence in the profession.

Given this, we would argue that continuing professional development (CPD) should not be diluted. We believe that the maintenance of CPD is a reflection of a practitioner’s engagement and reassures peers that their knowledge and skills are continually renewed. There is a need to ensure that CPD is accessible, affordable and tailored to the changing style of learning preferences as practitioners’ careers develop.

A recent article written in the midst of the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID‐19) pandemic highlighted issues in retired doctors being recalled to work in public health emergencies and natural disasters.3 Concerns included the increased risk of mortality in older people who contract COVID‐19 and the increased rate of psychological distress in frontline clinicians. These authors suggested that older doctors would be best deployed in non‐frontline roles, such as working remotely and in supervisory and leadership roles.