The Deceptive Income of Physicians

[doctorcoug]

This is an article that has just gone viral that I think all should read.

One of my favorite comments I've seen about the article is, "is this why I see my rich doctor driving his 94 civic to clinic?"

http://benbrownmd.wordpress.com/2010/06/20/informedconsent/

[wuapinmon]

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[All-American]

With the exception of employees and public servants, I frankly don't understand why people complain about how much money other people make. I think it is a symptom of one of the more troubling nationwide trends. Why does anybody feel entitled to somebody else's money?

[Donuthole]

The sense of self-importance on display in the comments to that article (and the article itself, really) is pretty laughable.

[doctorcoug]

I'm not whining. I'm hoping that more people will understand that "rich doctor" is a misnomer.

I chose my profession well aware of the opportunity cost. I did it to be happy, though I didn't realize what giving up the best years of my life would do to me.

[jay santos]

Not buying it. I know quite a few doctors. None drive '94 Civics.

[pellegrino]

I'm not whining. I'm hoping that more people will understand that "rich doctor" is a misnomer.

I chose my profession well aware of the opportunity cost. I did it to be happy, though I didn't realize what giving up the best years of my life would do to me.

neither did anyone who pursued a phd in the humanities or social sciences.

[wuapinmon]

neither did anyone who pursued a phd in the humanities or social sciences.

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Not only do we have as many years in school, there's no big payday looming for us.

[TripletDaddy]

The sense of self-importance on display in the comments to that article (and the article itself, really) is pretty laughable.

You are talking about a group of folks that refer to themselves as "dr" outside of professional settings.

I figure this person is LDS. I applaud the commitment to daily scripture study

“working/studying 80 hours a week for 48 weeks during med school”
This is accurate based on my experience. Actually most months (surgery, ER, MICU and IM wards, especially on the county and veterans hospital rotations), I worked about 110 hours/week. This includes getting up at 3:30am to get to the hospital to start drawing blood or writing notes and leaving at 7 or 8pm at night. Then getting home and reading a chapter or two before sleeping. My easiest months were 40 hours working + 20 hours studying per week.

[TripletDaddy]

With the exception of employees....

Well that certainly narrows the field a bit....

[All-American]

Well that certainly narrows the field a bit....

Sorry; I mean to say one's own employees.

[doctorcoug]

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Not only do we have as many years in school, there's no big payday looming for us.

Truly, the love of the game. If I recall correctly, most doctoral humanities candidates don't get a stipend, correct?

Like I said, I wanted people to read this to help further understand what it takes to become a doctor.

Oh, and this is the ONLY place I call myself doctor outside of the hospital. When I call my nurses, I introduce myself by my first name.

[New Mexican Disaster]

Referring to the hero who worked 110 hours a week...4 am to 8pm will get you 112 hours a week if you do it 7 days a week. Without any type of stopping for a break (as in no, lunch, no dinner, no breakfast).

I sincerely doubt that is a true statement, and if it is, the quality of care provided at just about any point during a week like that would be so low as to make a visit to google preferable.

I don't doubt that Doctors have to put in long hard hours and it is an excruciating grind mentally and emotionally. But these stories remind me of LaBoeuf in [B]True grit[B] and his penchant for drinking water out of hoofprints.

[doctorcoug]

Referring to the hero who worked 110 hours a week...4 am to 8pm will get you 112 hours a week if you do it 7 days a week. Without any type of stopping for a break (as in no, lunch, no dinner, no breakfast).

I sincerely doubt that is a true statement, and if it is, the quality of care provided at just about any point during a week like that would be so low as to make a visit to google preferable.

I don't doubt that Doctors have to put in long hard hours and it is an excruciating grind mentally and emotionally. But these stories remind me of LaBoeuf in [B]True grit[B] and his penchant for drinking water out of hoofprints.

When I'm "on service" (7 months of the year as an intern) work starts at 5:30 AM and ends at 7:30 PM. Breakfast was shoveled in at table rounds with the attending. Lunch was usually a couple of fig newtons and doritos from the doc lounge as I ran throughout the hospital and dinner was at checkout with the night team from 7PM-7:30, which is all the time we have to checkout 30 patients. On Saturday I only work until about 5 PM in the hospital, but then I'm responsible to answer the nurse calls all night until 5:30 AM on Sunday, which is my day off.

Luckily, as a 2nd year resident, I only have to do this two months out of the year. The rest of the year I average about 60 hours a week, but I have time to eat all three meals.

No, it isn't 110 hours (because of Sunday off), but it is pretty darn close. This is 100% the truth. There was a three day period about four months ago where I didn't have anything to eat because I was so busy and exhausted.

[San Juan Sun]

If there's one thing doctors-in-training are good at, it's exagerrating their numbers of hours worked.

And they are good at complaining. So I guess that's two things.

I work very, very hard. But I also have a life. I am compensated well, and soon will be compensated very well. I am 32 years old (not exactly old).

Most people don't get up in the morning and go to "fun". Most hate their jobs, but they do them, because this life is about work.