Point: Money

I wanted to write point/counterpoint blogs as I think about some controversial issues. The first is money. Physicians are supposed to be above financial interests, insulated from such influences. Indeed, it is anathema to accuse someone of going into medicine to make money (though certainly such people exist and for many, it is a motivator they won't admit to). On the other hand my business friends openly admit that they're launching a start-up or investing in a company to make money. Doctors are supposed to be unselfish and self-sacrificing, pursuing a career to help people, not for reimbursement. And to a good extent this is true; among professionals, doctors make the least for the amount of time invested in training. If we were driven solely by financial concerns, we should have gone into law or business. Physicians are duty-bound to provide care regardless of whether the patient has the means to pay. We go to third-world countries, we treat the homeless, we support universal health care. Like priests and clergy, we don't dabble in worldly goods, we don't flaunt our salaries. One of my teachers here said he's appalled that we let money color our selection of specialties (incidentally, he is an infectious disease doctor, a field no one goes into for money). No doctor is going to be starving. And that's all that should matter, right?