Why is medicine not what you thought it would be?

[WildcatMD]

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I've been following up on the "would you do it over again" thread and also saw another thread a few weeks ago on doctor's complaining about medicine

I had a quick question as a result of these threads, as well as hearing stuff during work from docs


Numerous people say that they don't like medicine or medicine sucks or they wouldn't go into medicine if they could do it over etc, etc...

When they say this, they almost always say something to the effect of "medicine isn't what I thought it would be" or "medicine isn't what it was made out to be" before they went into it
but they don't elaborate on this that much


Here are my questions,

When you say the above, what specific issues in medicine are you talking about?

What exactly makes you say "medicine isn't what I thought it would be"?

 

[Misterioso]

Isn't this like the 20th version of the same topic?

 

[Pir8DeacDoc]

Isn't this like the 20th version of the same topic?

This coming from the person who starts numerous threads across many forums about topics that have been beaten to death. The irony of it all...


Carry on..

 

[Misterioso]

This coming from the person who starts numerous threads across many forums about topics that have been beaten to death. The irony of it all...

Numerous? I've only started a few threads.

 

[8744]

What exactly makes you say "medicine isn't what I thought it would be"

The nurses don't look like porn stars. And they don't wear the little hats either.

Dammit.

 

[MD Dreams]

I've been following up on the "would you do it over again" thread and also saw another thread a few weeks ago on doctor's complaining about medicine

I had a quick question as a result of these threads, as well as hearing stuff during work from docs


Numerous people say that they don't like medicine or medicine sucks or they wouldn't go into medicine if they could do it over etc, etc...

When they say this, they almost always say something to the effect of "medicine isn't what I thought it would be" or "medicine isn't what it was made out to be" before they went into it
but they don't elaborate on this that much


Here are my questions,

When you say the above, what specific issues in medicine are you talking about?

What exactly makes you say "medicine isn't what I thought it would be"?

Here are a few things:

1. Very little respect for doctors from patients, allied staff
2. large population of ungreatful patients
3. Patients just can't wait to sue you
4. Dealing mostly with people who care very little for their health and now you have to fix them (smokers, unhealthy eating habits, lack of exercise, drugs, alchohol, etc.)
4. LOTS of paperwork
5. LOTS of calling this consult, running that test, dealing with this social issue, dealing with that family, etc.
6. ALOT of crazy people in this world and you see the worst of them
7. Decreasing salaries
8. LOTS of HIV, HEP C to take home to your family, if you get stuck and contract, everything you've worked for goes down the drain along with the rest of your life. For what, so you can stabalize another heroin addict so he can go out and shoot up again
9. LOTS of violence. Gunshot wound after gunshot wound
10. Physical, mental exhaustion. Little time to take care of your own family and health
11. Very sick people whose life we just prolong while doing thousands of dollars of tests on them only for them to crash and die at the end or go home for a week and come back the next week
12. Lot of politics. You can use this med but not that one, etc. The other day a resident wanted a portable chest on a crashing patient and he had to be one the phone for ten minutes explaining to the supervisor of the radiology department why he thaught a portable chest vs. a trip to x-ray was needed. What ever happened to physician authority?

There's a lot more. I think the single most thing that makes medical practice not pleasurable is the lack of patient appreciation. I think medicine is only worth it if you go into a specialty that has limited patient responsibilites or if your just a martyr to begin with. Would I do it again, yes, but I'm probably gonna go into a limited patient responsibility specialty and will probably spend half of my time doing medical mission work overseas where patients really need my help and where I'll be appreciated. All the best.

 

[KidDr]

Here are a few things:

1. Very little respect for doctors from patients, allied staff
2. large population of ungreatful patients
3. Patients just can't wait to sue you
4. Dealing mostly with people who care very little for their health and now you have to fix them (smokers, unhealthy eating habits, lack of exercise, drugs, alchohol, etc.)
4. LOTS of paperwork
5. LOTS of calling this consult, running that test, dealing with this social issue, dealing with that family, etc.
6. ALOT of crazy people in this world and you see the worst of them
7. Decreasing salaries
8. LOTS of HIV, HEP C to take home to your family, if you get stuck and contract, everything you've worked for goes down the drain along with the rest of your life. For what, so you can stabalize another heroin addict so he can go out and shoot up again
9. LOTS of violence. Gunshot wound after gunshot wound
10. Physical, mental exhaustion. Little time to take care of your own family and health
11. Very sick people whose life we just prolong while doing thousands of dollars of tests on them only for them to crash and die at the end or go home for a week and come back the next week
12. Lot of politics. You can use this med but not that one, etc. The other day a resident wanted a portable chest on a crashing patient and he had to be one the phone for ten minutes explaining to the supervisor of the radiology department why he thaught a portable chest vs. a trip to x-ray was needed. What ever happened to physician authority?

There's a lot more. I think the single most thing that makes medical practice not pleasurable is the lack of patient appreciation. I think medicine is only worth it if you go into a specialty that has limited patient responsibilites or if your just a martyr to begin with. Would I do it again, yes, but I'm probably gonna go into a limited patient responsibility specialty and will probably spend half of my time doing medical mission work overseas where patients really need my help and where I'll be appreciated. All the best.

Well said.

 

[bbas]

Here are a few things:

1. Very little respect for doctors from patients, allied staff
2. large population of ungreatful patients
3. Patients just can't wait to sue you
4. Dealing mostly with people who care very little for their health and now you have to fix them (smokers, unhealthy eating habits, lack of exercise, drugs, alchohol, etc.)
4. LOTS of paperwork
5. LOTS of calling this consult, running that test, dealing with this social issue, dealing with that family, etc.
6. ALOT of crazy people in this world and you see the worst of them
7. Decreasing salaries
8. LOTS of HIV, HEP C to take home to your family, if you get stuck and contract, everything you've worked for goes down the drain along with the rest of your life. For what, so you can stabalize another heroin addict so he can go out and shoot up again
9. LOTS of violence. Gunshot wound after gunshot wound
10. Physical, mental exhaustion. Little time to take care of your own family and health
11. Very sick people whose life we just prolong while doing thousands of dollars of tests on them only for them to crash and die at the end or go home for a week and come back the next week
12. Lot of politics. You can use this med but not that one, etc. The other day a resident wanted a portable chest on a crashing patient and he had to be one the phone for ten minutes explaining to the supervisor of the radiology department why he thaught a portable chest vs. a trip to x-ray was needed. What ever happened to physician authority?

There's a lot more. I think the single most thing that makes medical practice not pleasurable is the lack of patient appreciation. I think medicine is only worth it if you go into a specialty that has limited patient responsibilites or if your just a martyr to begin with. Would I do it again, yes, but I'm probably gonna go into a limited patient responsibility specialty and will probably spend half of my time doing medical mission work overseas where patients really need my help and where I'll be appreciated. All the best.

I'm interested in knowing why you would choose to do it again, despite all of the negatives you listed. What would you consider the positives to be that would make you do it all over again?

 

[CANES2006]

Here are a few things:

1. Very little respect for doctors from patients, allied staff
2. large population of ungreatful patients
3. Patients just can't wait to sue you
4. Dealing mostly with people who care very little for their health and now you have to fix them (smokers, unhealthy eating habits, lack of exercise, drugs, alchohol, etc.)
4. LOTS of paperwork
5. LOTS of calling this consult, running that test, dealing with this social issue, dealing with that family, etc.
6. ALOT of crazy people in this world and you see the worst of them
7. Decreasing salaries
8. LOTS of HIV, HEP C to take home to your family, if you get stuck and contract, everything you've worked for goes down the drain along with the rest of your life. For what, so you can stabalize another heroin addict so he can go out and shoot up again
9. LOTS of violence. Gunshot wound after gunshot wound
10. Physical, mental exhaustion. Little time to take care of your own family and health
11. Very sick people whose life we just prolong while doing thousands of dollars of tests on them only for them to crash and die at the end or go home for a week and come back the next week
12. Lot of politics. You can use this med but not that one, etc. The other day a resident wanted a portable chest on a crashing patient and he had to be one the phone for ten minutes explaining to the supervisor of the radiology department why he thaught a portable chest vs. a trip to x-ray was needed. What ever happened to physician authority?

There's a lot more. I think the single most thing that makes medical practice not pleasurable is the lack of patient appreciation. I think medicine is only worth it if you go into a specialty that has limited patient responsibilites or if your just a martyr to begin with. Would I do it again, yes, but I'm probably gonna go into a limited patient responsibility specialty and will probably spend half of my time doing medical mission work overseas where patients really need my help and where I'll be appreciated. All the best.

Awesome post. 👍

 

[Misterioso]

There's talk of introducing the USMLE Step 4: Incessant Complaining

 

[MD Dreams]

I'm interested in knowing why you would choose to do it again, despite all of the negatives you listed. What would you consider the positives to be that would make you do it all over again?

I appreciate all those who support my post.

A lot of the negatives I've listed are specific to the practice of medicine in the United States. I'm not saying that other countries do not have their own problems. However, there are many parts of the world where people really need and appreciate what doctors have to offer and it feels wonderful to care for these individuals. Of course there are people in the States that also are thankful, but I've found that to be the exception rather than the rule.

Some positive things about medicine:

1. Offers the type of science I love to study and practice. Fun to learn about diseases and the human body.
2. I love working with pleasant people and helping them
3. Theoretically seen as a high socioeconomic position, although fluctuates with varying environment (as stated above)
4. Money
5. Job securiy for the most part
6. Doing something that not everyone can
7. Feeling powerful and in charge. Love the life and death stuff
8. The beauty and elegance of surgery
9. An innate attraction to the field that cannot be explained
10. I'm good at it and not too good at other things
11. Honest profession (depends on the physician). But you can go home at the end of the day and rest in peace that you didn't have to screw someone over to put food on the table for your loved ones. In fact, you may have just helped someone.
12. Opportunity to relieve suffering to some degree all throughout the world, everyone needs a doctor.

I'm sure there are other reasons, but can't think of it now.

Please don't get me wrong. I love medicine. It is a wonderful profession. However, the present environment is very keen on taking the joy out of it. If the environment could be manipulated, perhaps to the point where doctors once again have more authority and respect, then some of the negative things I've listed would not be an issue. It could be fun and rewarding once again.

Some may call this complaining. Perhaps it is. But to me, it's a way of assuring that I will choose a field of medicine which will allow me to practice what I love and be happy at the same time. I think that will make me a much better physician then if I were miserable.

 

[docB]

There's talk of introducing the USMLE Step 4: Incessant Complaining

We're in a medical forum on a thread about why we're disillusioned about medidine. If there were ever a place where everyone gets a free pass to complain as much as they want this is it. Gripe away everyone. I for one am nodding in sympathetic agreement.

 

[DropkickMurphy]

As for physician authority, remember the keywords in your description "resident" and "supervisor".

As for everything else, a lot of those issues (AIDS, GSW's, heroin addicts, little free time, etc) can be alleviated or extremely minimized by the choice of specialty....never get into

When it comes to respect from allied healthcare providers, just treat them with respect and you will get it in return. There is a reason a lot of us dislike doctors- more than a few are pompous asses. Don't be one, and you will get a lot of respect.

 

[DropkickMurphy]

But I do agree that medicine has extreme downsides.....

 

[Trisomy13]

8. LOTS of HIV, HEP C to take home to your family, if you get stuck and contract, everything you've worked for goes down the drain along with the rest of your life. For what, so you can stabalize another heroin addict so he can go out and shoot up again

I know a number of professional living with HIV, HepC, and some former heroin addicts who are holding important jobs and have since found a way out of that hell who would take great offense at this statement.

Just sayin.

If patients were healthy and always took care of themselves why would they need a doctor? What were you expecting?

 

[Poety]

I know a number of professional living with HIV, HepC, and some former heroin addicts who are holding important jobs and have since found a way out of that hell who would take great offense at this statement.

Just sayin.

If patients were healthy and always took care of themselves why would they need a doctor? What were you expecting?

👍 👍

Yeah, personally I thought that guy had a pretty judgemental view of his patients (they smoke, they do drugs, they don't excercise) and I wouldn't really want that in a physician. Isnt the whole point of being a doctor to treat without judgement?

 

[ericdopt]

I think these are reasons you should get out of medicine - you really have a negative view here. In all actuality, I think this is by far the most self centered post I've ever seen on SDN, ever.

Sorry P, I gotta disagree. He was replying to the OP's question as to "why" he felt that way, check out the bottom of the OP's question. As for why people go into medicine...who knows. Everyone has their own reason, none more legitimate than the rest. If someone wants to go into medicine to help the underserved, then great...If person B wants to help the down and out in Beverly Hills (sounds like a great movie title, huh?), then great for him/her/it. Sorry this is going away from the OP's question.

Personally, I could never be as "compassionate" as many of the people presume to be in these forums. I can only take so many "compassion" statements before I hurl. It's usually from many of the MD/DO's to be who overuse it. It's also funny to see how the compassion term dwindles the more one confronts actual patients in the real world, not some lame classroom. But, then again, I guess we can't expect much real world teaching from people who grew up and now live on the campus. Sorry for the late night rant....now back to your originally scheduled post....


Great pic again by the way. 😀

 

[Poety]

Sorry P, I gotta disagree. He was replying to the OP's question as to "why" he felt that way, check out the bottom of the OP's question. As for why people go into medicine...who knows. Everyone has their own reason, none more legitimate than the rest. If someone wants to go into medicine to help the underserved, then great...If person B wants to help the down and out in Beverly Hills (sounds like a great movie title, huh?), then great for him/her/it. Sorry this is going away from the OP's question.

Personally, I could never be as "compassionate" as many of the people presume to be in these forums. I can only take so many "compassion" statements before I hurl. It's usually from many of the MD/DO's to be who overuse it. It's also funny to see how the compassion term dwindles the more one confronts actual patients in the real world, not some lame classroom. But, then again, I guess we can't expect much real world teaching from people who grew up and now live on the campus. Sorry for the late night rant....now back to your originally scheduled post....


Great pic again by the way. 😀

Dammit, I missed the point of the OP again, deleting PFFFTTTTTT I thought he was just going on a rant about why he hates medicine 🙄

and thanks, shes a little ragamuffin' her new thing this week is sleepin on the belly makin momma worry about SIDS

and to the OP: I think that a lot of people ARE very disillusioned about what medicine is, I think people that have an extensive medical background (very few) prior to medical school probably don't run into that same amount of regret or shock. actually, it would have been a major culture shock for me if I had no experience.

Medicine is tough, and its a lifestyle all the way around. If you're coming in from a different field or from college/medical school then clinical - you're going to find that a lot of the glamour just fades away by the end of it all.

Patients are difficult, your colleagues are difficult, but "medicine" itself is amazing, fascinating, and perpetually stimulating. At least to me it is. And I like the patients that are harder to treat, that don't take care of themselves etc etc, they challenge me to think of ways to help them improve their lives -something I think is critical in becoming an excellent healer.

stepping off the soap box, thanks ericdopt! 🙂

 

[DropkickMurphy]

I can only take so many "compassion" statements before I hurl.

Amen! Can I get a Hallelujah from the house!?

It's usually from many of the MD/DO's to be who overuse it. It's also funny to see how the compassion term dwindles the more one confronts actual patients in the real world, not some lame classroom.

What I loved about being an EMT clinical preceptor was watching the kids who had led very sheltered lives try to assess someone who hadn't bathed in GOK how long, that or the look on their face when they realize that the guy they are doing CPR on is, in fact, dead as a f--king doornail. Ah, reality bites....

 

[8744]

Here are a few things:

1. Very little respect for doctors from patients, allied staff
2. large population of ungreatful patients
...
6. ALOT of crazy people in this world and you see the worst of them
...
10. Physical, mental exhaustion. Little time to take care of your own family and health

Good list but:

1. Speaking personally, I get a lot of respect from my patients and the staff even as a short-coat-wearing PGY-1 here at Duke.

2. Seriously, most of our patients are pretty grateful, especially if you really do something to either cure them or make them feel better.

6. That's what makes medcine so much fun, it's a freak show.

10. Pace yourself.

 

[Butch]

That is almost as ridiculous as the USMLE Step 2 CS that we actually have to take!

There's talk of introducing the USMLE Step 4: Incessant Complaining