There seems to be a general consensus in the medical field stating that if you’re going into medicine for money, you’re better off elsewhere. While I don’t doubt this statement’s merit, I don’t think it should be a reason to keep a person away from medicine, and the deeper I dive into this field, the more I realize that idealistic altruism is truly expensive.
The problem with the US health care is that it slowly strips away all altruistic ideologies in young doctors. Pre-meds are raw materials being mold into very specific parts that work to ensure the functioning of a very capitalistic health care system. How do they do it? Ironically, they use money.
Even if you come into this field with a pure intention to save humanity without even thinking of making money, you’ll soon face the harsh reality that you can’t afford it. The deeper you go into debt, the more you realize that you need to make money. Suddenly, that humanitarian trip to Kenya is not as appealing as trying to land a competitive residency program.
Why do you think most US physicians are specialists? Nobody want to drag their butts into primary care because there is not much money to be made there even though it is the most demanded and important field for the public. Couple that with an increase in malpractice insurance premium and you have a recipe for a gloomy future.
Once in a while, I would encounter pre-medical students who vehemently state their altruistic passion for medicine and denounce those who are in it for the money. The funny thing is that whether they like for not, they will soon be too neck-deep in debt to buy that kind of idealistic thinking.
Personally, I think there is nothing wrong with a person pursuing medicine for money. As long as the quality of patient care isn’t compromised, who are you to tell him that he can’t? Those who say that they don’t live for money are self-righteous liars or people coming from rich families who aren’t going into debt and can afford to be so.
In truth, I like all of you idealistic pre-meds, but your naiveness sometimes can be overboard. Be realistic. We all have bills to pay and some of us can be altruistic animals, but not all of us can afford it (not while the US health care system remain unchanged).
