because I was finally doing what I loved. Worst year: internship--100 plus hour weeks, one night's sleep every 48 hours, and the attitude around me: "call me if you need me, but to need me is a sign of weakness." Bad food, low pay... and I missed out on 14 years of my life (college spent working to get into med school, 4 years of med school, 6 years of residency) Ever wonder why doctors feel entitled to big bucks and special treatment?

Stop-truth-decay:

because I was finally doing what I loved. Worst year: internship--100 plus hour weeks, one night's sleep every 48 hours, and the attitude around me: "call me if you need me, but to need me is a sign of weakness." Bad food, low pay... and I missed out on 14 years of my life (college spent working to get into med school, 4 years of med school, 6 years of residency) Ever wonder why doctors feel entitled to big bucks and special treatment?

Because they're selfish and greedy?

youth to become a doctor. No doubt while you were getting falling down drunk, I was in a hospital, sleep deprived and caring for some desperately sick person, for less than an RN makes--100 hours a week. If you calculated overtime, far less than minimum wage... what is 14 years of your life worth to you?

Bondsman, do you really think that doctors are selfish and greedy?

They are highly trained professionals who spend their lives performing a very difficult service, the withholding of which would lead to the rapid dissolution of society as we know it. They spend their lives helping people. It's nothing remarkable, but spending every day helping (or, at least, trying to help) those in need is more than most do with their time on Earth.

The expectations of society coupled with the degree of training and expertise required to perform the job certainly deserve some enhanced level of remuneration, wouldn't you agree?

Or would you rather that Lebron James treat your son's leukemia?

Why can't we outsource medical practice. One can pick up doctors cheap from Philippino, Pakistani, Caribbean or Indian cram schools.

They will do the work that American doctors won't do, for example working in primary care for less than $80K per year.

Do you really want your health care delivered by someone who received a third rate education and has "life is cheap attitude." Apologies to those Indians, et al, who trained in this country and have the requisite skill--but they charge US prices.

rsmdpa:

Bondsman, do you really think that doctors are selfish and greedy?

They are highly trained professionals who spend their lives performing a very difficult service, the withholding of which would lead to the rapid dissolution of society as we know it. They spend their lives helping people. It's nothing remarkable, but spending every day helping (or, at least, trying to help) those in need is more than most do with their time on Earth. The expectations of society coupled with the degree of training and expertise required to perform the job certainly deserve some enhanced level of remuneration, wouldn't you agree? Or would you rather that Lebron James treat your son's leukemia?

In answer to part "A", that was a joke.

In answer to part "B", isn't Lebron James a basketball player? why would he be treating anyone?

Bondsman:

rsmdpa:

Bondsman, do you really think that doctors are selfish and greedy?

They are highly trained professionals who spend their lives performing a very difficult service, the withholding of which would lead to the rapid dissolution of society as we know it. They spend their lives helping people. It's nothing remarkable, but spending every day helping (or, at least, trying to help) those in need is more than most do with their time on Earth. The expectations of society coupled with the degree of training and expertise required to perform the job certainly deserve some enhanced level of remuneration, wouldn't you agree? Or would you rather that Lebron James treat your son's leukemia?

In answer to part "A", that was a joke.

In answer to part "B", isn't Lebron James a basketball player? why would he be treating anyone?

Bondsman- you forgot the most important part of a joke- the part where its funny.

In answer to answer to part A: I'm sorry. I didn't realize you were joking. Now that I realize it, it IS quite hilarious. Good one!

In answer to answer to part B: My point exactly. He's not qualified to do something like that. Because it takes a high level of expertise and training. And yet, he makes 100 times what a pediatric oncologist makes.

I know its abstruse, but with your sense of irony, I'm sure you can get it.

rsmdpa:

In answer to answer to part A: I'm sorry. I didn't realize you were joking. Now that I realize it, it IS quite hilarious. Good one! In answer to answer to part B: My point exactly. He's not qualified to do something like that. Because it takes a high level of expertise and training. And yet, he makes 100 times what a pediatric oncologist makes. I know its abstruse, but with your sense of irony, I'm sure you can get it.

It's easier to be a pediatric oncologist than Lebron James.

Yes, that's true. The creme de la creme of ANY field makes a lot of money, heads of corporations make millions their employees make jack. ALL doctors (well, maybe not pediatricians) make well over 100k a year. That's pretty good compensation for someone who may never have had a real job before. On basketball players, most people who try and play basketball don't make anything, and people in the minors make less than any doctor - only a select few make it rich.

Do they earn their money? Yes they do. Do they deserve the same money as a top athlete? NO. The top athlete is paid what he is because he's making the team owners MORE than they are paying him. If a 'top' doc made some billion dollar breakthrough, I'm sure they'd be paid up the wazoo for it, but if they are just "average" doctors, they'll make an "average" doctor's salary.

Or look at it this way: pretend you have a child and he is both reasonably bright, diligent, and reasonably coordinated - what are YOU going to tell him is likely to be a more profitable career? Medicine, or trying to be Lebron James? If it's YOUR kid, I bet you'll tell him to be a doctor, which should tell you something about your example.

It is the smart move to advise your kid to play in the NBA or MLB, etc as evidenced by Tyler Hansbrough's dad, an orthopedist, who is all for Tyler going to the NBA instead of med school. The individual receiving the money is not the issue. It's the choice we make as a country that it is more important for Brittany Spears to get over $700,000.00 per day even when she's been out of work for over a year that is the problem. We have decided to spend our money going to sporting events and concerts. We don't balk at spending $250.00 a seat for a Yankee - Red Sox game (and those are cheap), or a Madonna concert. But ask someone to pay that for medical care and you'd better cover your ears. Read some history, the Romans were obsessed with entertainment in the decades before the Dark Ages came. It can happen to us just as well, and it seems like it is.

and co-ordinated child could also be a vice president of a company, or hold many other jobs with those sorts of skills. When you start paying doctors what the manager of your local J C Penny's makes, you'll have issues with quality, because the best and the brightest will choose other careers. There are SOME Albert Schweitzer's out there, but not enough to fill the ranks. You gotta ante up for the talent.

The irony is, of course, that Lebron would play for a lot less if that were the market. If the average NBA player made 100K, James would play for 200k. Because he's not going to be a doctor, lawyer or Wall Street banker. This is exactly the situation that pro athletes faced in the 50's, before TV made the owners (and the athletes) rich.

accio:

It is the smart move to advise your kid to play in the NBA or MLB, etc as evidenced by Tyler Hansbrough's dad, an orthopedist, who is all for Tyler going to the NBA instead of med school. The individual receiving the money is not the issue. It's the choice we make as a country that it is more important for Brittany Spears to get over $700,000.00 per day even when she's been out of work for over a year that is the problem. We have decided to spend our money going to sporting events and concerts. We don't balk at spending $250.00 a seat for a Yankee - Red Sox game (and those are cheap), or a Madonna concert. But ask someone to pay that for medical care and you'd better cover your ears. Read some history, the Romans were obsessed with entertainment in the decades before the Dark Ages came. It can happen to us just as well, and it seems like it is.

NO, I said what would you advise your kid to do assuming they were reasonably dextrous and intelligent and motivated, I did NOT say someone who has already been accepted to the NBA.

Heck, I'd send my kid to the NBA too if they were getting millions per year, then they could retire and go to college at their leisure.

But back the example, your kid in school who has NOT already been scouted out by the NBA, do you push him towards good grades or basketball?

Stop-truth-decay:

and co-ordinated child could also be a vice president of a company, or hold many other jobs with those sorts of skills. When you start paying doctors what the manager of your local J C Penny's makes, you'll have issues with quality, because the best and the brightest will choose other careers. There are SOME Albert Schweitzer's out there, but not enough to fill the ranks. You gotta ante up for the talent. The irony is, of course, that Lebron would play for a lot less if that were the market. If the average NBA player made 100K, James would play for 200k. Because he's not going to be a doctor, lawyer or Wall Street banker. This is exactly the situation that pro athletes faced in the 50's, before TV made the owners (and the athletes) rich.

Sure, I agree completely. Are you going to get better family practioners paying them 300k instead of 150k per year? Or not? And LeBron would play basketball for considerably less than he is if that was all he could get. Don't ask me why people pay so much to watch basketball games, but it's their money and they can do what they want with it.

Maybe we should do the same with health care, erase any kind of "mandate" that people should receive ANY care whatsoever, and let the market decide doctor's salaries just like in sporting events. Would that be a better option?

Obviously, I would say grades since there is more chance for a good career whether in medicine or something else than for making it in sports. Plus, the life span of an athlete is so much shorter, since everyone seems to think Bret Farve had to choose between a nursing home or playing another year. Actually, I have worked with several retired pro athletes who went to med school after and are very successful physicians so it is not mutually exclusive, just a succession. Lots of physicians have second careers but going to med school and training is like having babies - it is possible to do it when you are older, but you probably do it differently.

Actually, if the return for effort is what you are using to choose a career, many of my physician friends have kids who are interested in acting and the kids make several times more per hour than the parents. Plus, actors have a union that keeps them from being mistreated, guarentees their wages depending on the job and I'm sure many other advantages. Keep that in mind.