And if you fail to "pull the trigger" your career as a health professional could grind to a quick halt just as easily as a result of an attackers deadly force directed against you...I feel like if I'm ever given reason to pull the trigger, my career as a health professional could grind to a quick halt.
If you are not prepared to defend yourself with a firearm, than I would highly recommend that you don't carry a firearm, as it is absolutely useless without the will to use it in your defense. You need to think about that.
"Less than lethal" rounds are not a viable option for personal defense. Period.