British health authorities instruct doctors to lecture patients on climate change

The UK’s Royal College of Physicians (RCP) published a “green toolkit” for doctors this month instructing them to lecture patients on climate change and reform their clinical practices for the weather.

‘Repeat it often’ but ‘don’t debate the science’

Physicians should use their position “as a trusted member of the community” to discuss climate change with patients, says the 11-page document. Doctors are enjoined to “keep the message simple and repeat it often” but “don’t debate the science.”

As an example of what to tell patients, the RCP suggests doctors explain how cars emit toxic air pollutants that can affect a person’s health. Physicians should then recommend that the patient “carry an inhaler, avoid busy roads where possible and consider wearing a mask outside.”

Once patients are sufficiently "informed" (i.e., frightened) of climate change, doctors should look out for signs of “eco-distress,” as well as “depression/anxiety/PTSD related to flooding.”

Limit blood tests, diagnostic imaging, and ‘unnecessary prescribing’

In addition to lecturing patients, the RCP tells physicians to change their own practices to address climate change. For example, doctors should “limit diagnostic activities” where clinically appropriate, which includes reducing blood testing, “unnecessary prescribing,” and diagnostic imaging, such as X-rays. Physicians are also told to “make the switch from IV to oral antibiotics.”

Avoid private car travel, bring up climate change at every meeting

When seeing patients, doctors should opt to do so remotely as much as possible to limit the amount of travel, which they claim causes climate change. If a physician must travel, he or she should walk, bike, carpool, or take public transportation for the climate.

Doctors should also pressure their colleagues to become climate change activists and bring up climate change at every meeting.

“Incorporate climate change and sustainable healthcare as a standing item in all clinical governance meetings,” instructs the toolkit.

RCP warns of ‘climate-related health conditions,’ climate refugees

The RCP warns that over 250,000 people will die from climate change by 2050. While claiming that most of these deaths are more likely to occur in Africa, “the UK will not be immune from the direct effects of extreme heat and flooding events, or the inevitable arrival of climate refugees.”

“A growing number of patients are projected to present in hospitals with climate-related health conditions, and it is important that physicians know how to respond,” added the RCP. “It can be challenging to prioritise sustainability at a time when there is very high demand for clinical care, but this can ultimately deliver wider benefits for population health – and in turn reduce pressure on the [National Health Service].”

‍