You are not getting the idea. The absolute number of physicians is not what is being discussed. Imagine if 50% of all phyusicians were dermatologists. While the absolute number might not indicate a shortage, we’d be very short of many specialties, such as primary care, endocrinology and the like. Primary care is dying. The older docs, who make up 50% of the physician population, plan to retire early. Do you get it now?

The markey would determine the number without intervention or planning, if we would allow it.

The problem is, all of you socialists want to determine what the number is and then dictate what people should do, rather than allowing the market do it automatically.

What you fail to realize, is that asking the question “What is the optimal number of (picka commodity to be spupplied) and demanding an answer, reveals that you are a hard-core socialist.

Why do you not ask, what is the optimal number of cans of coca-cola – that is how many should be manufactured – no more, no less – and then dictate the price of coca-cola?

I earn about 20% less but work half as much. I don’t even miss that money, because half went to taxes anyway. Plus I get paid benefits, profit sharing, annual COL raise (imagine that!). Interestingly, I also get far more respect in my new job than I ever got in private practice.

To all unhappy docs I say: Get the hell out now!! Its only going to get worse. There is huge opportunity elswhere in the healthcare industry if you have the courage to re-invent yourself.

Get out now and let the lawyers eat whats left.

Ah, we should lie… That will get the numbers back up where they should be, no? Doctors leave because they’re not happy. Don’t you think it would better to address the reasons they leave, rather than lying to new doctors? Look, the new doctors are not stupid, they’re going to figure it out on their own, better to tell the truth. And the truth is that there are real problems that have to be addressed.

That doesn’t answer my question, whether it’s true or not. The fact that none of you have answered it indicates that it’s just a throwaway line you use to scare the public. You really have no idea what the optimal number is or when you would stop threatening shortage.

Every single day, you come here and discourage young medical students not to go into family practice. it seems you go out of your way to slit the throat of your own profession. Why would any young person want to become a doctor, after listening to you drone on and on about how horrible it is?

Look around, You can’t find a doc in my area that will accept new medicaid, unless you are mandated by a federally subsidized salary. You can’t find a lot of doctors that will accept NEW medicare patients. It’s not in the future. It’s now.

When it happens to you, you will know. It’s already happenening everywhere. If medicare passes their 10% cut, (and I hope they do), there will be a mass exodus of physicians. The only access to primary care will be those willing to establish a cash only basis on terms on par with reality.

If your dentist refuses to accept subpar reimbursment, why do you expect your primary care physician via medicare/medicaid/HMO/any insurance.

You can’t handle the stress of this job and deal with resentment at the same time.

Should I be above that and not resent having my rights and freedom taken away from me, the same rights everybody else has to decide what they will work for? I make no apologies for that. I am an American and love freedom and OUGHT to get mad when it is taken away. The only way for a slave to fight back however, once made a slave, is to withhold his enthusiasm for his work. That stinks.

On the one hand, I say don’t worry. They were saying the same thing when I was in school. They were right in predicting the loss of independence but not the degree or rapidity. Medicine will still be fun and interesting and financially rewarding. But it is going to get less and less free. If you value your independence, chose your specialty carefully.

They are, however, oxymorons.