Effin Healthcare

[the lurkist]

We are f'd in the a. BOHICA, baby.

[clif]

Ha he ha ugggh... we're fucked.

nice

[Clevis Hitch]

I find that the easiest way to not loose $70,000 to a collection agency is to not own anything. Indigence is the way of the future.

[the lurkist]

dude, you are right. way cheaper to not have any assets for the collection agency to go after when you get hurt. can't get blood from a turnip. And not to worry, you will still get excellent care.

[michaelarmand]

No it is not, because all physicians educated in this country take the Hippocratic oath, which if it means anything to them, they are swearing to treat any and all patients to the best of their ability regardless of compensation. Thus it becomes their duty to provide care, making it an entitled right to anyone who seeks their assistance.

So what is your profession? Will you work for free? How about go to school for 8 years, come out with $200K in loans, work 80 hour weeks - unpaid. Sound reasonable? There is no part of the modern hippocratic oath stating doctors will work unpaid:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hippocratic_Oath

Don't get me wrong, I think it is very honorable for doctors and health care providers to provide services to the poor - but this is not an entitlement.

[Rotarypwr345704]

Using wikipedia as a reference. Awesome.

[toad857]

doctors will still be making a very comfortable living... they certainly won't be working for 'free'

[mike_a_lafontaine]

So what is your profession?

I teach at a medical school. I've got plenty of education debt and have turned down thrice my current salary from the private sector so that I could continue teaching. Not that it has any bearing on what I said. I never implied physicians should work for free, but most of those that I have taught are not in it for the money. The ones that clearly are typically are the less quality students.

[Clevis Hitch]

The thing that I observe from the preceeding statements is that, Mike, you are so comfortable with your financial situation that you aren't worried about "money" per se because if you were you'd take a job that paid more. So obviously you are sticking with your salary because to you, its enough. But if it wasn't then you'd give up the satisfaction of what you are doing to provide more. You are so secure in your job that at anytime you could go and take a job for thrice the money. I say stick with job satisfaction if you can but don't be afraid to take the money.
It seems you've whittled out a nice spot for yourself in this world. Congratulations.

[mike_a_lafontaine]

Actually, I'm near bankrupt from a child's medical bills and barely keeping our head above water.

But the rest is pretty much on the spot.