The author’s view is that Burn Out Syndrome is a work place related form of personal suffering characterized by physical and emotional confusion such that personal work effort disintegrates. This, in turn, results in chaotic work performance and personality degeneration, with recourse to substance abuse, the potential towards self harm, or suicide possibly during moments of despair and desperation pertinent to the nature of the personal suffering. Amidst all of this, insight may still be preserved. The passion for the job first peaks at a high when one’s achievements are recognised and acknowledged, often with significant reinforcement that the ultimate good is being done for the sick patient. Burn Out Syndrome is a real work place related psychophysical and social issue that results in work force attrition, loss of productivity and interpersonal or patient-staff related disintegration of function among the HCW. This inevitably results in a negative outcome for both the health care worker and the patient. Incidents of deregistration and self harm may be indirect consequences for the HCW, while examples of sub optimal care of individual patients may result depending on the circumstances. An important but somewhat forgotten implication of burn out relates to work force shortages. Both critical care medicine and nursing are unable to attract or retain front line workers in the specialty. Unfortunately, not sufficient attention has been paid to assist with this problem or with specific measures to prevent BOS in the ICU environment.