Quote from spersky:
Here is a Doctor's perspective.
I work very hard and I enjoy what I do. It is very demoralizing hearing people complain about how doctors make too much money, and they need to be taxed more. I work about 60-80 hours a week, and the job is difficult and challenging. I truly care about the outcome of the patients I treat.
Medicare payment actually are revenue negative for my practice. Meaning I actually pay money to the government to do Medicare. I do them anyway. In addition, when some scumbag gets shot in the middle of the night, and has no insurance, I also get called to go help save his life. He might have hepititis or HIV though, and if I get cut or spalshed with blood, I could contract a deadly virus. Btw, I will not see any money for that service.
I still make good money because I charge other people, and get paid well.
So to sum it up.
1) I work many hours missing out on great family life at home.
2) I sacrificed my 20's just to get the the point that I can start my carear.
3) I hear how Doctors need to get taxed more from obama and how the government want to push a universal coverage with a payment schedule that is net revenue negative (it is so low).
4) Potential high risk working environment with dangerous viruses that can kill you if exposed.
Eventually, "Atlas will Shrug" for many doctors and they will gone from the profession. Hopefully it will not happen, but I fear that the government and the people with their hand out will keep asking for more and more, until maybe I wont leave my wife and family in the middle of the night to go and take care of the no-pay gun shot wound. I might just not be available or have moved on to other things.
Afterall, the joy of work and helping people can only sustain the walls from crashing in for so long. Eventually, that altruistic action of giving care for free, might be gone. I might prefer working 40 hours a week and making a whole lot less money.
Regards,
Quote from makloda:
France (especially the south) can be a great place, the taxes are terrible though if you're wealthy.
I have no doubt though that US taxes will be similar within 10 years time as it converges (downhill) with Europe![]()
Quote from indexer:
Everyone is working hard these days and no one is indispensable. Many doctors are in debt from trying to super-size their lifestyle (2nd homes, fancy cars and expensive country clubs). They could not afford to quit, its just a vulgar threat to scare people - like a policeman saying that he is not going to protect you if he doesn't get more money.
Health care costs have grown far faster than inflation in the US. This is one of the reasons why many jobs have been offshored and people are unemployed. The gilded age for doctors will soon be over.
Quote from spersky:
I would not expect the 60-80 hour work week, or even the all night calls. There would be no financial incentive for me to make those sacrifices.
Quote from brown:
...the Doctor might see 100-150k of that. And that is not to mention the 12-14 hour days they are working, and on top of it taxes, not even mentioning 40k a year in malpractice. I
Quote from Scataphagos:
No shit! I've got a friend who's an pediatric orthopaedic surgeon... did a fellowship study in Switzerland for hip abnormalities (over and above his schooling and residency). He was 42 years old before he got his medical education loans paid off. He told me, "FINALLY, I can buy a house".
How many kool-aid drinkers would have that kind of ambition?
I have to agree. I just can't feel bad for doctors. They should have known what they were in for before they started med school. And as a previous poster stated, they'll always be in demand. They really don't have to worry about outsourcing like an engineer, a programmer, or an accountant.Quote from QQQBALL:
you should have signed that post "AMA"
how many doctors wait until 42 yo to buy a house? answer: not many.
So when you get a chance, ask your pediatric orthopedic surgeon buddy how much he makes $/hour in surgery.