The Pitt: The Human Cost of Burnout

HBO’s The Pitt has reinvigorated the genre of “medical TV shows”, carrying an unprecedented number of Emmy achievements and critical acclaim.  As the show approaches its third season, many fans are theorizing what conflicts our doctors will encounter. Will Dr. Robby go on his hiatus? Is Dr. Al-Hashimi still working at The Pitt? These burning questions are all rooted in the universal question that the showrunners want to address–not just to the characters, but to us viewers: when is enough enough? 

The Pitt serves as a grueling reminder that doctors put everything over their mental health. For instance, in season 2, our main protagonist, Dr. Michael 'Robby' Robinavitch, is at odds with the decision to leave for three months on a sabbatical. With his peers encouraging him to take a break, Dr. Robby still feels the pressure to maintain order in the ER, whether managing residents or finding a replacement for his role. 

Dr. Robby and other characters in The Pitt exemplify the psychology of burnout. According to Psychology Today, burnout is defined as “a state of emotional, mental, and often physical exhaustion brought on by prolonged or repeated stress.” For healthcare professionals, workplace stress like dealing with a variety of patients or working long hours contributes to fatigue and burnout. In the healthcare environment, there have been many worker shortages. The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services explains how healthcare burnout disrupts patient care and preparation for the next emergency. 

Burnout could also culminate in physical and mental symptoms. This mirrors an emotional scene when Senior Resident Dr. Mohan suffers from a panic attack–including sweating, hyperventilation, and chest pain–after juggling her patient obligations with her family issues. Mohan is confronted with more pressure after Robby berates her for merging her work with family drama. This moment spotlights the demanding and distressing environment healthcare professionals sustain. 

Other characters in The Pitt embody the effects of burnout. For instance, second-year resident Dr. Santos fits the mold of the psychological concept known as compassion fatigue–a condition that causes people to be indifferent to the suffering of others. Compassion fatigue is often seen in healthcare workers due to exposure to their patients’ suffering. Though Dr. Santos is not an apathetic sociopath, she copes with the losses of patients through sarcasm and cold-heartedness compared to her peers. This defense mechanism may negatively impact patient care in the real world, leading to difficulties in empathizing with others. 

Throughout the chaos and stress in this emergency center, The Pitt highlights the positive actions doctors can take to balance their workload with the rest of their lives. Although she is a third-year medical student, the character Joy Kwon intentionally chooses to leave the ER on time instead of helping in the chaotic environment. When another doctor questions her, she cites an accurate statistic: 62% of ED doctors report burnout. The act of leaving when her shift is over demonstrates self-care. Kwon is able to prioritize her mental health and life outside the ER. As a result, she does not experience the same amount of burnout compared to her co-workers. 

While on the surface level, The Pitt focuses on medical mysteries and the politics of the healthcare system, the writers also explore the human nature of being overworked and how burnout harms mental health. With every 15-hour shift, the answer to preventing burnout becomes more and more inevitable: enough is enough when you begin to lose yourself. However, through self-care, people can recover from burnout one step at a time.