Sid Schwab: “Despite the inevitable comments that doctors are overpaid, ego-driven, profit-taking purulent pustules of putrefaction, isn’t it logical to think that we’re heading for trouble? Is it reasonable to think there’s a point, for even the most selfless of people in any walk of life, at which the graphs of increasing hassles and of decreasing rewards (monetary and otherwise!) cross, and drive current workers out and turn away future ones?”
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{ 8 comments }
Not as long as you continued to be paid on average better than 99.5% of the world.
The only thing that is going to happen is that your bitching will become ever more shrill until perhaps you become full time govt employees.
Anon 1:53,
That was a very helpful comment – not! As far as being a full time employee of Uncle Sam, let me say that full time employment with no nights or weekends, and federal protection from the legal parasites would be heaven indeed.
“Not as long as you continued to be paid on average better than 99.5% of the world.”
Hey, if you want the money, do the work. Go ahead, try it, and see if it’s worth the money you make. Your comments are of some-one who believes that they have a right to a certain income. I call BS. You aren’t owed anything. Do what real workers do, earn your money, rather than trying to take it from some-one else.
Great pitch (NOT) for universal care Anon 1:53.
And spot-on Anon 3:06. Eventually, without significant change in the way a lot of things are done, the increasingly entitled public is going to get EXACTLY that.
Then the “shrill” “bitching” (always loved that term) and moaning will be coming from those who lobbed the comments (about doctors being overpaid/ego-driven profit-mongers) . . . those who did not appreciate how good/easy/accessible things actually were when they had it.
Be careful what you ask for Anon 1:53. You just might get it.
Well, I guess I was right about the reaction. But here’s the truth: physician reimbursement IS going down steadily. Hassles and frustrations ARE increasing. So despite the reactions to pointing it out, the inevitable result will be (is becoming) that good people will turn away from the profession. It’s happening. Who will choose to go into medicine under the current trends? Time will tell. But changes are afoot, and unless politicians recognize it and decide to do about it, the anonymous commenter of 1:53 will have more to complain about than doctors’ complaints. He/she will be able to rail about the lack of availability of good care. But by then, it’ll be too late. How much should doctors make? I don’t know. How much should good doctors make? I don’t know either. But the time is coming when the second question will be moot.
Anon 3:06, then why don’t you become a VA doc? Or vote for Obama. You may well get your wish. Many of your fellow physicians don’t want universal healthcare. They want all the benefits in terms of liability protection, but they don’t want the public to enjoy any benefits in terms of access.
“Do what real workers do, earn your money, rather than trying to take it from some-one else.”
I do, and I work hard, and I make a better living than most and I’m appreciative of it. I don’t just whine incessantly like you physicians.
“Be careful what you ask for Anon 1:53. You just might get it.”
I might get what? According to you physicians it’s already miserable for everyone involved in the health care system, most importantly yourselves. So what’s the threat?
“But the time is coming when the second question will be moot.”
As far as the public knows, there is no difference between the good ones and the bad ones. When things go wrong because of your own negligence, you guys don’t tell us – you just say that happens and where’s my liability protection. And you guys allow all of you, good and bad, to get paid on the same pay schedule.
Again, all these doomsday scenarios you’ve been spewing don’t seem that different from the scenarios you incessantly bitch about right now.
“I work hard, and I make a better living than most and I’m appreciative of it. I don’t just whine incessantly like you physicians.”
Do what we do, and then tell us whether we have a reason to complain. You presume to know our work, without any experience in the field. Yet you appear to believe that the money we make is disproportionate to our work. Volunteer at your local ER, and see what comes in. See if you’re willing to put up with that. The money you think we make isn’t worth it. We complain because we see things that are broken and need fixing, and are powerless to change. What other recourse do we have?
I don’t presume to know your work, I just know LOTS of people have hard jobs, many far more dangerous that get paid far less than you. And they man up and don’t cry constantly like physicians.
What other recourse do you have? Are you joking? You’re the wealthiest profession in the world. The problem is getting you guys to agree on anything other than that the legal system is bad is impossible. And you don’t even know what you’re talking about half the time with the legal system.
If it sucks so bad, quit. No one MAKES you do it. Otherwise, just quit crying.
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