What I find most disconcerting about this article (besides the concept of MedFICO in the first place) are many of the comments below. Apparently, many people seem to believe that doctors should bear the responsibility of solving our health care crisis by providing free care, since it is believed that they swear an oath to "provide services to everyone, regardless of their ability to pay." Some comments of note:
"The Dr. has given as oath to help epople [sic] regardless of their financial abilities."
"Hospitals are full of Doctors. Doctors that take an oath to put the patient first. I for one would never go to a doctor that turned a patient away because of their inability to pay."
"The physicians of this country aren't helping our people by raping all of our pocketbooks and this next development is just another slap in the face to the citizenry of this country that deserves the health care systems provided to our allied countries. When are we all going to stop giving them the other cheek to slap? They are loving that philosophy all the way to their big fat ridiculous bank accounts!"
"Wait a minute! This is not what medicine is about. It's about treating people and caring for them regardless of their ability to pay. This is the most ridiculous crap I've ever heard of."
Yet the same commenters who call doctors "greedy" also tout this great country's "EQUAL OPPORTUNITY FOR ALL OF THOSE WHO WANTS TO WORKS HARD AND ATTAIN THE GOOD LIFE." Why should this not also apply to physicians? If I work hard, why shouldn't I have a shot at the "good life," too? When did I swear an oath to work and not get reimbursed? Young doctors should not be expected to martyr themselves upon the altar of universal care. Of course I chose to go into medicine because I like working with and helping people. But, most importantly, I am becoming a doctor because it is a career, and a way to earn an income. Why is that such a terrible thing? Why should I be expected to work for free?
