Need perspective - bitter doctors scare me

[achillina]

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Hi,
I'm studying for my MCAT, want to become a doctor for what I think are good reasons. I'm shadowing a doctor, meet a lot of doctors.
I know that becoming a doctor takes a lot of effort but have any of you noticed the number of doctors who are bitter and full of themselves? God, I am so scared of becoming one of them. The other day I met this doctor who straight up told me "Don't do it, it's not worth it, it's not what you think it is. If you want to help people you can do it in so many other ways. Money is not as good as you think, there is no pride, you get no respect from patients." I was shocked and quite discouraged. Then I asked her, do you like what you do now? She said "Yeaa.. I do" and turn away. Wow!

I don't want to be like her!!! I have a lot of expectations in going to med school, I want to make a difference and I believe I can. I've seen hospitals, doctors, etc, but I can only imagine, my experience could be really different in reality.

Now there is a bit more doubt in my heart - really bad timing!, I'm studying for the MCAT.

Can someone share some wisdom into this?

Thanks.

 

[witness23]

you'll still be yourself. sometimes people get bored when they are working, or are stressed out by real life events. when people usually say pay isnt as well, i like to think they have a family. having people depend on you adds another realm of "problems", and they definitely restrict your self autonomy. when you add everything up, it will be rare for people at the age of 30-65 to be as idealistic/energetic as us.

in short, don't worry about it. you are bored cuz you have nothing to do but study for the mcat. true story, we've been there

 

[Mystikal]

My dad is a general surgeon and he absolutely loves it. Sure there are many days when he is stressed as hell but he always tells me how he wouldn't trade it for the world. Nothing is better than saving someone's life and then going and telling the family about it. For those few hours you are there hero and no other profession could beat that.

 

[nick_carraway]

It's a field of egos and strong personalities, but it doesn't mean that every doctor is a jerk. We all think twice about it based on the people we meet and I think that's healthy. Just have faith that you can do well in a field dominated by people like that and you'll be fine.

It's the consequence of a field composed of people who are trained to think that they're the best and a consequence of being overworked with not necessarily a great deal of positive news for some doctors.

 

[georgearms]

It sounds like the doctor you asked still likes what she does anyway, so don't take her bitter comments too seriously. Obviously she loves something about the job to keep doing it, and it doesn't sound like it's for the money or the respect. She probably just has a bitter personality and would be that way whether in medicine or another field. I'm studying for the MCAT too, and it's definitely not something that's reinforced my desire to go into medicine. But remember the people you have met in medicine who are fulfilled. They're happy and they make a difference in people's lives. And even if they're not happy, they still make a difference just by doing their job. To me, that's pretty sweet....but I guess if you don't care about that at all, then, well.

 

[TMP-SMX]

Ask someone who is an executive at any business right now if they like their job or someone who owns their own small business what they think. I guarantee the job satisfaction is much higher in the physician pool than the rest of the work force. At least they have jobs. People in many businesses are just trying to stay working rather than enjoying it. Life isn't easy, and that doesn't mean that magically physicians are immune to this. Having to pay bills and worry about insurance and paperwork sucks, but that's how business works.

Being a physician is a job. It requires a huge investment of time (your 20s), money (lots), and requires a lot of hours even post-residency/fellowship depending on the specialty you choose. However, it is a guaranteed job, you are in demand, you are largely independent (besides insurance hoops), and it can be extremely rewarding. A lot of medicine is just going through the motions treating the same thing over and over in the elderly but on occasion you see a patient that you can really help and save their life. You have to be ready for that.