Why doctors are sick of their profession

#1

Post by roye » Sat, Aug 30, 2014, 4:03 PM UTC

Why doctors are sick of their profession
online.wsj.com

Re: Why doctors are sick of their profession

#2

Post by ihsanyounes90 » Sat, Aug 30, 2014, 4:30 PM UTC

In my opinion(and general opinion), this is the most important job. Maybe we can find someone depressed(like in the article), but come on they save lives.

Re: Why doctors are sick of their profession

#3

Post by prestadige » Sat, Aug 30, 2014, 5:00 PM UTC

Going into a career because it's noble, rewarding or because it "helps people" seems like a mistake.

Re: Why doctors are sick of their profession

#4

Post by ch4s3 » Sat, Aug 30, 2014, 5:00 PM UTC

More work for less pay huh? Being squeezed by profit taking business people at the top... surely no one other than doctors can relate to such changes in the economy.

*Edit I am of course being a bit sarcastic. It's interesting to see how shifts in the general economy are changing the medical profession.

Re: Why doctors are sick of their profession

#5

Post by jmspring » Sat, Aug 30, 2014, 5:14 PM UTC

ihsanyounes90 wrote: post #2

In my opinion(and general opinion), this is the most important job. Maybe we can find someone depressed(like in the article), but come on they save lives.

It is critical, but given sheer number of lives impacted daily, I rank teaching higher. Especially given the pay disparity.

Re: Why doctors are sick of their profession

#6

Post by StavrosK » Sat, Aug 30, 2014, 5:16 PM UTC

prestadige wrote: post #3

Going into a career because it's noble, rewarding or because it "helps people" seems like a mistake.

Going into a career because it's rewarding seems like a mistake?

Re: Why doctors are sick of their profession

#7

Post by adamnemecek » Sat, Aug 30, 2014, 5:18 PM UTC

StavrosK wrote: post #6

prestadige wrote: post #3

Going into a career because it's noble, rewarding or because it "helps people" seems like a mistake.

Going into a career because it's rewarding seems like a mistake?

I think he meant financially.

Re: Why doctors are sick of their profession

#8

Post by chubot » Sat, Aug 30, 2014, 5:19 PM UTC

ch4s3 wrote: post #4

More work for less pay huh? Being squeezed by profit taking business people at the top... surely no one other than doctors can relate to such changes in the economy. *Edit I am of course being a bit sarcastic. It's interesting to see how shifts in the general economy are changing the medical profession.

That's not a helpful comment. It's already addressed in the article anyway:

Of course, doctors aren't the only professionals who are unhappy today. Many professions, including law and teaching, have become constrained by corporate structures, resulting in loss of autonomy, status, and respect.

Personally I think the history lesson in the article was great. It makes me wonder about programmers. We are riding high now. But if we keep producing software that neglects user intent, then perhaps we will also find ourselves regulated. I'm actually happy that the FTC has stepped in and constrained certain companies.

Re: Why doctors are sick of their profession

#9

Post by marincounty » Sat, Aug 30, 2014, 5:23 PM UTC

1. I understand their frustration! 2. Yes--you are fighting with insurance companies; So are your patients. 3. No--you are not the "pillars of society" anymore. (That's change has been slowly taking place. Patients educated themselfs, I don't know, but patients wised up; they realize when when they are dragged in for unnecessary office visits--just to invoke another billing.) 4. O.K.--You are not making the money your father did--neither are most of your patients; the world changed. Hopefully, things will get better. You guys deserve Tort Reform--I think, but then again I sometimes feel the only reason you guys pick up the phone, or refill a prescription is because you you don't want a lawsuit. (It pathetic I'm even thinking like this?) 5. In the end, we are all in this mess together, and one day You will be a Patient. 6. I swore I would never comment on HN again. (The political Correctness is stifflling, but I needed to respond to this article.) 7. Goodbye again. That said, if you have realatively good genes, and you eat somewhat healthy; I would steer clear of most Doctors. I never thought I would say that about allopathic physicians.

Re: Why doctors are sick of their profession

#10

Post by exstudent » Sat, Aug 30, 2014, 5:23 PM UTC

You can definitely feel this as a patient. If I could give my vitals to an app and have it diagnose and prescribe remedies, I would do it in a heart beat and never visit a doctor again (of course you would need robot surgeons too :).

I've never seen a doctor research anything either (although I'm sure they do behind the scenes). They seem to be pulling from whatever information cache they have in their head which I often suspect is horribly outdated.

I'd take a crowd sourced db of health info over a doctor's personal knowledge any day of the week.