Do doctors want to be doctors or make money?

[babylonsister]

There's a question for the ages. I know some go into specialized because they know they will make more, sometimes to pay off their bills. I just hope we haven't killed the regard and willingness that docs have had to heal.

Those that aren't in it for the money solely, I salute you!

[Cant trust em]

1. I'd suspect that it's a little bit of both. nt

[sharesunited]

I have always said, if you are in it for the money, I don't want you in it.

But maybe that's wrong of me. Someone who is gifted with exceptional skill can't be expected to perform it for a low wage. A subsidized medical education system which encourages the perfection of skill without enslaving students to student loans seems like the perfect compromise.

[CoffeeCat]

2. Like any profession--

Some are in it because they truly want to do good things. Others are just in it for the lifestyle and money.

Then, we have the group who was told what to major in, and what profession they would chose--because their family
has seven generations of people in that profession. Those are the types we need to worry about...no matter what line
of work they're in!

[Skittles]

3. I suspect the good ones want to do both

[bridgit]

5. that sounds right

[napi21]

4. It's both. I do know a few that went into a specialty after practicing

as a GP for several years , mostly for the money. I suspect those that are only in it for the nomey are the poor (bad) docs.

The best specialists I've known are usually the worst with bedside manner and dealing sith people on a personal basis, but absolutely the best at their job!

[Indenturedebtor]

6. It's mostly the ins companies that are the problem

Get rid of them and you've cut expenses by over 33%.

[napoleon_in_rags]

7. I was impressed at Obama putting that front and center for the AMA.

And ALSO at the applause he received for saying it! I think there is a lot of pride in the profession...But we all know the guys who's mothers told them to become doctors for the money, its so common place its banal. What's really killing us right now is the almost total collapse of ethics for profit seeking. Its right that a hard working doctor should be well paid, but WTF???

[notesdev]

8. Ever see their debt levels and insurance costs?

Between paying off their loans and buying the insurance to stay in business, doctors HAVE to make a lot of money or they can't be doctors for very long.

Someone has to ask - what's wrong with this country that we can't train a doctor without leaving him six figures in debt before he earns his first dime as a medical professional? What's wrong with this country that you can't deliver babies without needing to spend four times the average gross wage in malpractice insurance alone?

[kath]

9. what about leaving HER six figures in debt before she earns her first dime?

also need to consider that by the time a doc is done w/ residency, she or he has put in a minimum of ELEVEN YEARS of post-secondary education and training, 2 years more than that for general surgery or a medical subspecialty, and a couple more years on top of *that* for a surgical specialty.

[gatorboy]

19. This is why they charge $300 for 7 minute visits?

It all makes sense now...

[DesertFlower]

10. i'm happy to say that my primary

care doctor doesn't care about money. he cares about treating people. he's 77 and drives a plymouth -- nothing fancy. i know that he's treated people who can't pay.

when he was younger he used to go down to mexico to treat people for free.

[Posteritatis]

11. Are doctors a monolithic hivemind or a collection of varied individuals?

The number of people around here who think the former depresses me.

[Rex]

12. Both.

They want to be doctors AND make money. Now honestly, I have no problem with that, it is the politicians and lobbyist groups I have a problem with making money off of the talent of doctors. I do have problems with doctors that focus on money.

[sub.theory]

13. The significant investment in both time and money...

required to actually become an MD is, unfortunately, one of the reasons that doctors are concerned about pay. When it takes a decade of your life and hundreds of thousands of dollars in debt just as the cost of entry into the profession, well then the reality is that pay is going to be an issue. One of the steps that we could take to lowering health care costs would be to reduce the cost of entry to becoming a physician.

[paulsby]

14. false dichotomy

in that plenty are in it for BOTH, but the question assumes one or the other.

[Orsino]

15. I'm guessing that such a demanding job...

...is entered into primarily from a desire to heal patients. Because of the demands of the job and the extensive training required, doctors have a right to expect above-average compensation. For-profit health "management" by Big Insurance is, of course, doing its best to beat altruism out of health-care professionals at every level.

[OneTenthofOnePercent]

16. The amount of crap docs go through before making the big bucks

tells me that they are at least genuinely interested in the profession at first. I'm sure there are many decisions that have a monetary basis - going into private practice, rates, fees, going into a specialty, etc...
I'm just saying that at first I'm sure they all have an actual zeal to become a "doctor"... not a bank account.

Imagine taking out $100k+ in loans to attend school in addition to whatever undergraduate school loans you have floating over your head. Most new docs or kids in med school are the epitome of "poor college student". Then after rigorous schooling and many achievements, you get to work ungodly hours as a resident making pittance for your effort. If... IF you're one of the better doctors in your facility you get a decent salary and start you're career path. If you're lucky, you had some good times along the way because you've effectively donated your 20's to the pursuit of a profession.

IMO, doctors are justly compensated:
a) For the shit they have to wade through to get to where they are.
b) For the irreplaceable service they provide to the public. Their hard work and knowledge directly contributes to community health.

[Xithras]

17. It's funny, but two HS friends became doctors, and neither was in it for either reason.

Both were "engineer" types who chose medicine because they view the human body as a complex system, and enjoy the challenge of repairing it. One actually went to school for two years to become an architectural engineer before deciding to switch to medicine. I can state for fact that neither one went into the field because of a humanitarian desire to help people, but I don't think they were out to get rich either. They both wanted a challenging and creative job, and chose medicine as their field.

I've always wondered if this was common.

[quidam56]

18. Heaven Help Us Because Health Care Won't

We MUST have health care reform this year. As a former health care giver, I am sad to see Profit Care is now more important than Patient Care. http://www.wisecountyissues.com/?p=62 In East Tennessee and southwest Virginia what the heath care system is selling is nothing at all like what really is their "acceptable standards " on public record in Greeneville, TN Federal Court, cases no. 2:04-cv-375. Apparently it's legal to lie about health care and legal to run false and misleading advertising about health care in TN & VA.