MD degree - worth it??

[crazyhands]

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I know that this isn't the best place to post this topic but I'll shoot anyway..

First take a look at this.
http://www.doctorspage.net/satisf.asp

http://www.physiciansnews.com/commentary/497dv.html

The web page is for practicing physicans and how they can control their stress. Look at the links at the bottom of the page. It seems as though their careers are so stressful and they are all on the verge of being burned out.

If being a doctor is going to be this stressful, is it even worth putting yourself though trying to get into med school, get through it, and then having an extremely stressful job for the rest of your life?

I should add that I have not made a decision on whether I want to try to med school or not and am trying to dig up as much information to help me make my decision.

Your thoughts?

 

[somewhere2010]

if you're doing something you really really reeeeeeeally love, it will be worth it despite all the stress in the world. i'm a pianist, and i can't tell you the countless hours of meticulous, boring, painful practice i've put in preparing for a recital, and times when i've wanted to quit because it was so hard.but a moment later i dismiss the thought because i know i'd be incomplete if i didn't do it...so in my eyes, it's just an inevitable part of life. perhaps the doctors you're referring to don't reeeeeeeally love what they're doing...

so if you've had a fair amount of experience with science/medicine and really think you want to be a doctor, it will be worth it...somehow, some way, you won't regret it. you just have to do a lot of soul-searching and learn as much about what you're getting into before you get into it.

i know i'm way oversimplifying this/being naive, but that's my $0.02.

 

[RDickerson]

There are certain things you must learn in compliance with medical school. Many of which if you do not, you begin to deteriorate as a doctor as described in those passages you posted. You must learn how to deal with those things described, it's like a second part to being a doctor.

Honestly I think it just comes down to the reasons you are becoming a doctor. If you're doing it for the money, other factors may discourage you. Know why you want to become a doctor, do it for the right reasons, and I would think that the good you do is reward enough.

 

[WhatUpDoc!]

Whatever profession you choose will have it's ups and downs. Go find some positive literature on the medical profession and don't be discouraged or bogged down by the negative aspects (which again, you will find in EVERY job... well except for maybe a video game tester 😛 ) It really comes down to what you enjoy doing and how you would like to spend the rest of your life. Nobody wants to be stressed out or tired all the time, but then again, life is all about sacrifices and I think medicine is a field that best exemplifies what sacrifice is all about. Personally, I would rather be the non-conformist and put family over job, and if that makes me a second-rate doctor than so be it. I think a fairly good doctor with a happy domestic life is much better than a great doctor with an unhappy wife and kids at home. 👍

 

[Captain Fantastic]

The only reason to practice medicine is because it fulfills you in some way that nothing else can. Otherwise, yeah, it's not worth the sacrifices you'll have to make. And once you've invested hundreds of thousands of dollars in an education and devoted over a decade of your life to the pursuit of a license, walking away is very difficult.