Doctors make too much money

Klute

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May 2, 2012
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Many doctors have to maintain overhead, but don't overestimate. A good number (particularly specialists) are supported by hospitals who provide free office space and a stipend for staff, etc.
I know a northern Doctor who services an incredible case load as he is the only Doctor for miles. He cannot take much needed time off for surgery. So while he makes more money than some professionals he works much more punishing hours. And if he messes up a dosage, drug or makes ar error - someone could die. Huge responsibility.
 

George The Curious

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Nov 28, 2011
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Something to read about, that was passed on to me by a doctor friend
http://benbrownmd.wordpress.com/
"The Deceptive Income of Physicians"

There's alot of number crunching in there, but you'll get the drift...
These docs work mighty hard for many years in school before they start seeing some $$ head their ways

If you think they make too much money, then don't go see them - as the common saying goes around TERB - vote with your wallet! I for one, like to be healthy and happy, and I'll gladly pay my doctor, dentist, acupuncturist, RMT, optometrist, chiropractor. Heck, my wife even sees a TCM doctor (traditional chinese medicine). Worth it to me, and when it stops being worth it, i'll stop going
I'm not dismissing the importance of doctor's work and even harder time they had to endure during training and school. The main argument is not so much against doctors as it is to point out the monopolizing medical associations and licensing board for making entry to medical field unreasonably difficult. For instance, many qualified immigrant doctors cannot practice not because lack of qualification or skills, but simply because licensing board protecting local doctors.

Also, putting a limit on medical school admission when there is clearly shortage is unethical, and result in cut throat competition among university pre-meds - many of whom have spent their entire youth preparing to become doctor only to fail not because they are not smart enough but because they lack hospital work experience or connections, or simply because there are 50000 applicants for 100 seats. While it is easy to argue such scheme ensures "quality" of doctors, I simply do not see how such cut throat competition is effective since once you make it, you are safe for the rest of life as a doctor. No other profession guarantees this as you have to continue to work and compete to thrive in such fields as engineering, finance etc.. Only in medicine, once you obtain the license, you are safe for life unless you really fuck up big time with malpractice etc, which is indeed rare.

I simply believe free market competition in medicine should increase quality of doctors than current system, and save cost. If you are indeed a good doctor, then there is nothing to fear, patients will flock to you and your business will florish. If you are a bad doctor, then you will make less money. In the current scheme, medical system is almost a socialist scheme, all good and bad doctors, are doctors.
 

VIPhunter

Well-known member
Jan 17, 2012
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I'm not dismissing the importance of doctor's work and even harder time they had to endure during training and school. The main argument is not so much against doctors as it is to point out the monopolizing medical associations and licensing board for making entry to medical field unreasonably difficult. For instance, many qualified immigrant doctors cannot practice not because lack of qualification or skills, but simply because licensing board protecting local doctors.

Also, putting a limit on medical school admission when there is clearly shortage is unethical, and result in cut throat competition among university pre-meds - many of whom have spent their entire youth preparing to become doctor only to fail not because they are not smart enough but because they lack hospital work experience or connections, or simply because there are 50000 applicants for 100 seats. While it is easy to argue such scheme ensures "quality" of doctors, I simply do not see how such cut throat competition is effective since once you make it, you are safe for the rest of life as a doctor. No other profession guarantees this as you have to continue to work and compete to thrive in such fields as engineering, finance etc.. Only in medicine, once you obtain the license, you are safe for life unless you really fuck up big time with malpractice etc, which is indeed rare.

I simply believe free market competition in medicine should increase quality of doctors than current system, and save cost. If you are indeed a good doctor, then there is nothing to fear, patients will flock to you and your business will florish. If you are a bad doctor, then you will make less money. In the current scheme, medical system is almost a socialist scheme, all good and bad doctors, are doctors.
Um…OK…but remember we do live in a single payor system..ie your government. They set the fee schedule. If we had a true market for medical services, I could see the rationale of opening up the doors a bit…….But I think The Canadian Health Care Act is far more damaging than the CMA.

And, no..I have no empathy for doctors….no more than any other professional or business person who hustles every day.

I have much less time for those overpaid underworked civil servants you compared Drs with in your first post
 

onthebottom

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Jan 10, 2002
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Hooterville
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Interesting case of a local doctor who's gotten tired of the insurance/medicare/aid programs and simply set up a membership with his patients, if you want to see him it's 2K a year, he has 300 patients (OBGYN) - apparently he's had to turn away women wanting this deal…. Give you a sense of market price.

OTB
 

shack

Nitpicker Extraordinaire
Oct 2, 2001
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Something to read about, that was passed on to me by a doctor friend
http://benbrownmd.wordpress.com/
"The Deceptive Income of Physicians"

There's alot of number crunching in there, but you'll get the drift...
These docs work mighty hard for many years in school before they start seeing some $$ head their ways

If you think they make too much money, then don't go see them - as the common saying goes around TERB - vote with your wallet! I for one, like to be healthy and happy, and I'll gladly pay my doctor, dentist, acupuncturist, RMT, optometrist, chiropractor. Heck, my wife even sees a TCM doctor (traditional chinese medicine). Worth it to me, and when it stops being worth it, i'll stop going
Good post. Love it. Also don't forget about some of the huge debt they have once they have completed years and years of being a student with no income. They enter into the workforce and start earning income later than the average person.

Seeing as I was accused of being part of TPS in the police thread I expect to be called a member of the OMA now.
 

TeasePlease

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Aug 3, 2010
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Maybe in Canada, but not in the US. In the US, that would be a violation under the Stark provision. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Stark_Law

My experience is strictly in Canada. I've dealt with both sides (hospital finances and working with the OMA).

I do know that US hospitals pay big bucks for shift coverage. One of my friends flies down to Rhode Island twice a month to cover weekend ER shifts at a local hospital. It's easy money, and pays well (shift fee on top of service fees).
 

shack

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Oct 2, 2001
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As I already pointed out, I think most people feel empathy for doctors therefore miss the real problem.
If they had empathy, they would have an appreciation for doctors income.

Maybe I missed what the real problem is.
 

George The Curious

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Nov 28, 2011
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If they had empathy, they would have an appreciation for doctors income.

Maybe I missed what the real problem is.
Real problem is socialist medical system. lack of competition. Good doctors should be rewarded even more money to justify their work and effort, while the bad ones should receive less, as with any other line of work.
 

George The Curious

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Nov 28, 2011
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My experience is strictly in Canada. I've dealt with both sides (hospital finances and working with the OMA).

I do know that US hospitals pay big bucks for shift coverage. One of my friends flies down to Rhode Island twice a month to cover weekend ER shifts at a local hospital. It's easy money, and pays well (shift fee on top of service fees).
I was in the US once, I was shocked to see TV Ads for hospitals. I first thought the ads were about a hotel or retirement home, but no it's for a general hospital. Service levels in US hospital is better and waiting time is less than Canada because of this healthy competition. However, the problem in the US is government medicare scheme and medicaid wasting tax payer money, not the competition itself.
 

elmo

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Oct 23, 2002
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Real problem is socialist medical system. lack of competition. Good doctors should be rewarded even more money to justify their work and effort, while the bad ones should receive less, as with any other line of work.
So first they make too much and now you want to pay them more?
 

lazysausage

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Feb 3, 2012
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The health service is a joke, vaccines are a joke, the whole pharmaceutical industry will collapse with the awakening eyes of many people. If you still cant see it, open your fucking eyes. Doctors arent the problem, its the government.
 

james t kirk

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Aug 17, 2001
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Doctors are not overpaid.

Now SPs, they're overpaid.

Well, I would not say SPs are over paid because they simply charge what the market will bear. You might think that they are too expensive, but that is a different argument.

What BLOWS MY MIND is that an SP charging 300 and hour is making more than a doctor (If you figure it out on an annual basis).

Say she sees 20 guys in a week (that's 4 per day, 5 days a week and not impossible by a long shot)

That's 6 grand a week.

Over 50 weeks, that's 300 grand, but she's not paying any tax, so it's like making 500 grand a year.

That is incredible.

Oh, and doctors are not overpaid. They've gone through the toughest programs at the university level for 10 years, and then the practical training on top.

Then add in the responsibility, etc. etc.

Definitely not over paid.

Hunter Harrison (CEO of CP rail) is paid 50 million a year.

50 million a year is obscene and no-one deserves that kind of remuneration. (Unless it s you're own company I suppose, but as an employee, even CEO, a million a week is nuts.
 

JohnLarue

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Jan 19, 2005
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I simply believe free market competition in medicine should increase quality of doctors than current system, and save cost. If you are indeed a good doctor, then there is nothing to fear, patients will flock to you and your business will florish. If you are a bad doctor, then you will make less money. In the current scheme, medical system is almost a socialist scheme, all good and bad doctors, are doctors.
Are you willing to apply the same standards to your profession?
What happens if they are applied to the TTC or CUPE ?
 

George The Curious

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Nov 28, 2011
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Are you willing to apply the same standards to your profession?
What happens if they are applied to the TTC or CUPE ?
Yes, in profession is IT, and you see range of income from 20k / year junior web developer, to over a million (if you were a Twitter employee for the past couple of years).

Yes, in my opinion, TTC and CUPE unions should be killed.
 

shack

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Oct 2, 2001
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Real problem is socialist medical system. lack of competition. Good doctors should be rewarded even more money to justify their work and effort, while the bad ones should receive less, as with any other line of work.
Well that's a very different comment than the blanket statement used as the title: Doctors Make Too Much Money. Say what you mean. Mean what you say. Now tell us, which of these two topics do you want to discuss?

So if social medicine is the problem why did you reference an article about the high costs of American medicine, almost the last vestige of non-socialist medicine in the world? You seem to be arguing against yourself?
http://wallstreetpit.com/5769-the-medical-cartel-why-are-md-salaries-so-high/
In this article, it describes how AMA in the US limits the number of medical school admissions to stifle competition, and keep doctors fee high. Rarely do you hear people complaining or even associate AMA as a union.
Is it OK when business leaders get together to map out strategies for their industries.?
 

basketcase

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Dec 29, 2005
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Real problem is socialist medical system. lack of competition. Good doctors should be rewarded even more money to justify their work and effort, while the bad ones should receive less, as with any other line of work.
The competition in the US has resulted in the worlds highest medical costs.
 

basketcase

Well-known member
Dec 29, 2005
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The health service is a joke, vaccines are a joke, the whole pharmaceutical industry will collapse with the awakening eyes of many people. If you still cant see it, open your fucking eyes. Doctors arent the problem, its the government.
Sweet - back to the poor dying by 35 and old age being 50.


p.s. while we're at it we should outlaw soap too - damn Big-Triglycerides
 
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