[RETIRE WITHOUT LEAVING - DOCTORS WHO CONTINUE TO WORK AFTER RETIREMENT].

Retirement is a tipping point and a significant change in lifestyle for people who have worked for most of their lives. Life without work, a social framework, employment, content and a sense of necessity are a blow to the self-image and identity of a person who feels that retirement was imposed on him only because he reached a certain age specified in the law.To examine the post-retirement tendency of physicians to continue working in various public frameworks.A qualitative study was conducted in which the data was collected through semi-structured in-depth interviews that enable the integration of pre-determined key questions along with flexibility and freedom to develop dialogue and raise additional questions. The study population included twenty doctors of various specialties who reached retirement age and continue to work. The interviewees were asked questions about their work, whether they had prepared themselves for retirement, if they had fears about retirement, why they decided to continue working, how long they thought they would continue to work, and more.Many physicians have talked about the fact that in the field of medicine, experience is one of the most important resources. Retirement at the age of 67, at the physician's professional peak, is perceived as forced retirement. In addition, all physicians spoke about the fear of a drop in their standard of living and monthly income due to the low pension to which they are entitled. Moreover, since the profession of medicine is so demanding in terms of hours of work, many of them have no leisure pursuits or alternatives to work. Furthermore, since the medical profession is so central in their identity, retirement may be an affront to that very identity.Despite the great pressure that characterizes the work in hospitals, many doctors continue to work after retirement age, finding it hard to give up their professional identity, status, and especially their years of experience.