From offering a tired surgeon a cup of tea after a tough night in theatre, to a simple thankyou or smile, doctors are being urged to treat each other with more kindness, especially at handover time.

Doctors pride themselves on compassion for their patients, but can be judgmental and critical of each other, creating a negative culture, write the authors of a Medical Journal of Australia reflection.

Anaesthetist Associate Professor David Brewster, along with surgeon Adjunct clinical Associate Professor Bruce Waxman, both of Monash University in Melbourne, argue it’s time for change, especially at a time when doctors are experiencing burnout, harassment and bullying.

“Why are doctors so unkind to each other? What has happened to collegiality?” they ask.