How Accruate Is this?

[Iridium]

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I was reading the journal of this former 3rd year:
http://upalumni.org/medschool/

and even though I knew that the road was hard, that was pretty high on the freak-out factor! Is that accurate? Is it the ramblings of one ultra-cynic who sees the cloud in every silverlining?

Just for your info, I'm a Freshmen in college presently.

~Iridium

 

[kissit]

after reading this, all of the excitement i had about starting med school in july is melting away...

i hope it's not that bad.

 

[Rapid Decomposition]

Hm, at the risk of sounding naive, I would say much more the latter than the former. Check out this quote from the surgery part:

"I am daily shocked at the distracted, unfeeling, unconcerned attitude of those who work with the sick. Whatever pretense of humanity medicine ever had is lost in surgery. I empathize with my poor brain which struggles in dreams and awake to make sense of it all. My latest dream was of a heavily armed gentleman who went around killing doctors, showing up at meetings with machine guns."

Not only is this kind of sick, it shows an immaturity in dealing with problems that people (in this country, anyway) usually get over as kids (i.e., "someone makes you angry = kill him" is NOT a valid way of dealing with something). Also, as an "artist," he is going for shock value by blatantly overdramatizing the meaning of every little encounter.

In my opinion, he's so used to being negative and angry at everything that he can't make himself see what's right with the world and with medicine, and he exaggerates everything that is wrong with it. This guy would be unhappy no matter what job he did!

 

[VienneseWaltz]

I was a little freaked out by the first account of 3rd-year I heard, from a good friend ahead of me in this process. Then I heard someone else say that 3rd year was supposed to be the worst. So I was nervous. But during my interviews, as I talked to 4th years (including those not officially part of interview day, e.g., friends of my host, etc.), the concensus was that 3rd year is great, as it's when you get to start actually functioning like a doctor. Another friend currently going through her core clerkships absolutely loves it--she can't wait for her OB residency. I think third year is when you find out whether you made the right decision.

 

[denali]

I read the same account and, after considering his biases, had to ask myself if the author, during his "activist" pre-med days, spent any extended time with a physician, in an ER, on a ward, etc. I'm not sure he adequately prepared himself to study medicine by taking the time to find out what he was getting himself into.

My experience tells me that his account is but one facet of medicine magnified by his point of view.

It is an interesting read though...

mdf

 

[Brewster]

Third is a lot of work and you will feel disillusioned at some point during the year. However, overall it is a fantastic experience. You are finally working with patients in a clinical setting, which is what most people go to medical school for.

I have not read that entire book, but I have read bits and pieces. I agree with the "shock value" sentiment. There is too much of it in that book.

Don't be discouraged.

 

[kissit]

Deep breaths and a sigh of relief are in order.

Thanks for reminding me of the the more positive aspects of rotations.

 

[spumoni620]

I just finished going through this myself. It is definitely a scary but intense read. It's especially interesting as I just finished reading "Complications" by Gawande a week ago...this sets up a stark contrast.
i'm a med-school hopeful this year so i can't really speak to how accurate this set of writings might be...i'm praying it's more exaggeration and a one-sided view. I do suspect that there may be several elements of truth to what he writes. however, what gives me hope is the message from Complications (you should definitely read this book.) He presents some of the same ethical dilemmas in a different light (i.e. residents/med students performing procedures w/o full knowledge on part of patient; doctors who aren't all that, etc. etc.). i have to say I'm also disturbed by that particular facet, but keep in mind there is always a resident/superior supervising you on your first time. It really is not a perfect world, but IMO it helps to go in there with the best possible attitude.

Like Rapid Decomposition and VW said, this year of experience seems to be what you make out of it--at least from what I can gather. i'm sure it can be terrible and disgruntling, but if you look at it as a time of discovery and learning--a sort of "rite of passage" it could be more bearable.

And finally, I agree with RD and Brewster--I have trouble accepting something that is overwhelmingly opinionated and one-sided...here the author's tone is overhwelmingly negative; it seems like he didn't really understand what he was getting into in the first place.

definitely a good "test" though for me, i guess, if I can really stick with this. (I think yes.)

 

[Biodude]

I read this quite a while ago. Never managed to finish it though. Oh yeah, and the author sounds pretty psychotic. He is definitely too opinionated, and well, at first, it was a downer, but then when I realized how one-sided this seemed, I stopped seeing it in a favorable light. It's informative, but not that informative.

As for his pre-med days, I found out that he didn't have much research or clinical experience to speak of, and he really does sound like he didn't know what he was getting himself into. His very first chapter starts out cynical, and so that makes me wonder why he chose medicine with a personality like his.

I would say more about the book, but I've gotta run!

 

[badgergirl]

Originally posted by VienneseWaltz
I think third year is when you find out whether you made the right decision.

well said.

Originally posted by spumoni620
I just finished reading "Complications" by Gawande a week ago...this sets up a stark contrast.

i agree -- if people should read anything, they should read "Complications" -- he writes so well, and it is such moving material that in the middle of the purgatory that was the MCAT last year, this book gave me a breath of fresh air when i needed it the most. i took an ethics class this past semester because of it, and it really does give you some things to think about. what i like about gawande's book is that it takes a constructive look at medicine and ethics, rather than lambasting 3rd year apparently out of frustration and not being mentally prepared. this guy sounds a little too jaded, so take this with a grain of salt...

 

[FMLizard]

If someone were to create a real drama movie or documentary about medical school and residency, they would likely walk with an Oscar. No, Patch Adams doesn't count. Sadly, those who have actually been through it owe so darn much money that they can't go out and produce an indie film.

 

[Iridium]

Originally posted by denali
I read the same account and, after considering his biases, had to ask myself if the author, during his "activist" pre-med days, spent any extended time with a physician, in an ER, on a ward, etc. I'm not sure he adequately prepared himself to study medicine by taking the time to find out what he was getting himself into.

Judging by the fact that he was an PhD/MD candidate before he dropped out of the PhD, he had to have some experience in order to get that position, right?

I knew that it was a difficult and long road, but the way he put it, it sounds more masochistic than anything else. Replies seem to be split on this... some say he's right, some say he's way off-base. Hmm.

 

[FMLizard]

However, many docs don't realize the stress level of other professions. Consider my two career paths that led me to the health professions (I am non-traditional and haven't decided which path to pursue yet, I'll do that after taking my pre-reqs). Here are the two examples:

My first career goal was to be a fighter pilot in the AF. These guys have a physically destroying job that most cannot last in longer than 10 years or so. Couple this with being abroad in some pretty awful places for around six months out of the year, and you are left with a lot of stress. We haven't even brought the danger aspect in yet. Being a jet pilot in the military is a lot like being a pro athlete (or a doc for that matter), only without the money or fame. You are always on the road, your body gets ruined, you can be moved around at any time without say or notice, but your job is a game at times, everyone envies you and chicks dig you, until they really understand what its like.

So after receiving my pilot slot and being subsequently medically dqed, I took my MIS degree and went to the next logical option, IT. The stories of happy dot-commers with 35 hour flex workweeks and stock options out the rear end have been grossly misrepresented. My only two offers in this disastrous economy were for consulting jobs that each averaged around 80 hours per week. Both required extensive travel of around 75%. Sure, I was going to be getting good money, but nowhere near the salary of even a low-end FP.

Being a doctor is hard work. I have no doubts about this. I respect everyone who goes through it tremendously. However, it is important to know that there are many other professions that make great sacrifices with even less reward than physicians.

 

[Iridium]

Originally posted by FMLizard
However, many docs don't realize the stress level of other professions....

So you believe that had he been in any other profession, he'd be just as miserable?

 

[denali]

Originally posted by Iridium
Judging by the fact that he was an PhD/MD candidate before he dropped out of the PhD, he had to have some experience in order to get that position, right?

He may or may not have had experience, but I suspect his exposure to actual medical practice was brief and superficial. I think had he spent more time seeing the nitty-gritty of medicine prior to choosing it, his idealistic notion of 😱MEDICINE😱 would have been "shattered" earlier. I've no doubt, though, that he spent a lot of time contributing to causes/programs/etc. that were worthwhile and that he believed in, but my suspicion is that his ECs prior to med school were not clinically related. Pre-med ECs must include at least a year of inimate involvement with medical practice: EMT, long-term care, hospice, ER volunteer, military medic, etc.

I think his skin may be too thin for medicine, and his account of 3rd year disillusionment is overwrought and too sensationalized. House of God was much better IMHO. In any case, if his story causes people to do their own soul-searching before devoting themselves to medicine, then it serves a very good and necessary purpose.

Your mileage may vary,
mdf

 

[spumoni620]

denali,
well said.

this appears to be a person who walked in with a very idealistic notion of medicine, convinced he was going to single-handedly help alleviate the problems of poverty and sickness plaguing humanity without thinking through it first. No doubt he did have experience in order to land a prestigious M.D./Ph.D admission. But this is a person of extremes: realizing that his idealism was not to be, he began seeing everything through an overly cynical lens. I don't think either view is accurate. no doubt, drawbacks most definitely exist in this field--they exist in EVERY field. Ethical dilemmas and unethical behavior is a fact of life in ALL professions. When sick, I myself have visited several doctors and received very unsatisfying, almost cursory treatment in several instances...

The important thing, I think, is to enter this knowing that there will be terrible days and wonderful ones too. as a physician i hope to be able to separate myself from the shadier aspects of medicine that take place and stick to my values..and i know that in order to fulfill a dream, I'll have to go through the sacrifices and tough times. I just have faith that the end result will be worth it.

 

[Biodude]

I think that this dude who wrote the book should have checked out SDN, and particularly this part of the website first:

http://www.studentdoctor.net/guide/application/why_medicine/whysave.html

People always have an altruistic view of medicine when they begin on the course to become doctors, but what they have to do is talk with and realize the bad aspects of medicine. This is neccessary to ground themselves back into reality before making the final decision. I know that I've done it. I've heard so many bad tales about the medical field, but I still wanna go into it. I'm not naive, though. I know that I will still be subjugated to the same things as most everyone else. I know I'm not special 😀

I'd also suggest House of God over this super duper biased book any day.

 

[Fastidious]

Just finished reading the journal... disturbing....

Fastidious.

 

[buggy]

We have to remember that thousands medstudents have done that, we can do it too. Maybe the old system should change a little bit so medstudents can be treated better and respected a little bit more. I think a lot of the stress may come from the medical staff surrounding the medstudents - residents, interns, attendings, nurses, etc.

One of my friends is a young physician, she told me that her attending almost didn't permit her the leave for undergoing a serious surgery! She said she was leaning against the wall all the time the days before her surgery and had to work hard even like that. That totally shocked me. I look up to her because she's a great doc even though she's been through all the tough time there.