In opening yesterday’s award ceremony for the #RCPsychAwards the President of the Royal College of Psychiatrists described the celebration as like “the Oscars of Psychiatry”.
I can only speak personally but I have concerns about the award culture that has developed in psychiatry – and indeed in medicine generally. My fear is that such a culture may encourage deference to a professional body before patients. It also may discourage speaking up by professionals and in this way a particular narrative may be more easily sustained.