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Your post is filled with inaccuracies.

From personal experience and from studies I've read, most doctors select their profession rather early on...many in high school or before. Money wasn't the driving issue then. As for status, I think a better word is independence. I was interested in medicine from grade school, and wanted to be in charge. As one goes on in medicine, you find that you aren't as in charge as you think.

The AMA doesn't really have a whole hell of a lot to do with the day to day practice of medicine, medical education, or medical licensing. I haven't belonged to the AMA since I was a medical student, and only about 30-40% of doctors belong to the AMA.

The residency work hours requirement was an outgrowth of state laws in New York which were enacted following the highly publicized death of a woman from meningitis, I believe. Purportedly, the resident was "too tired" to make the diagnosis. Many hospitals now use physician extenders to provide in house care. Me, I would rather have a tired doctor.

"Nurses have discovered how simple most doctors tasks are to perform." Huh?

There is not a global physician shortage. However, their are regional shortages and specialty shortages. Training more physicians does not automatically translate into lowered costs or charges, and in some cases it is probably not possible to increase the number of specialists, because the costs of the training programs are so prohibitive.

BTW, the federal government has a lot more to do with the numbers of physicians in training than the AMA...Medicare pays for physician training, and it pays for only so many slots in so many specialties.

I've been in this business for over 20 years, and one thing I have learned is that there are a lot of people who think what we do is "simple". You don't know what you are talking about.

>>>There is not a global physician shortage. However, their [SIC] are regional shortages and specialty shortages. <<<

Globally, there is no physician shortage even as U.S. doctors are complaining about the self-imposed one here in the USA.

>>>From personal experience and from studies I've read, most doctors select their profession rather early on...many in high school or before. Money wasn't the driving issue then.<<<

A tenured medical school professor from a reputable Top 20 institution told me that he met, during 10 years of teaching, maybe 3 students who were in med. school for the love of medicine instead of merely money and status. After a decade he gave up and switched over to serve on the engineering faculty.

I've been in this business for over 20 years, and one thing I have learned is that there are a lot of people who think what we do is "simple".

It seems to be a popular misconception. I wonder why states require so much education and training - for the fun of it?

I've been in this business for over 20 years, and one thing I have learned is that there are a lot of people who think what we do is "simple". You don't know what you are talking about.

Amen. I was/have been a PT for 22 years, and have been doing medical transcription for 3 years now. I can attest to the vast difference between MDs and nurse practitioners/PAs just by typing their dictation. A PA is wonderful for allergic rhinitis, as well as triage and entry-level care, overall probably 70% of visits to physicians. If I know what I want (such as a referral to an orthopod or a rheumatologist) I'm fine with a PA, but for a problem I don't have a clue about, give me an MD or a DO any day.

The PA/NP lack of education/knowledge shows up dramatically in their dictations. I've typed some good ones (who work in specialty offices mostly), but a lot are terrible with their drug pronunciations and make frequent dictation errors. I agree with regard to the AMA - it's hardly a union and really doesn't have that much say over things. The number of docs produced depends on how many students the schools crank out - if a lot of folk want in, the schools eventually raise the number of seats or drop them accordingly.

I know a lot of PTs who started out pre med but switched, usually because of not wanting the lawsuits, the malpractice insurance, and also because of wanting more personal time.

Jesse...

We have trod this ground before...Your position was that no person has a right to medical care....

My position is that if that is a fact, then the field needs to be opened to others.

It is also a fact that med schools have not increased the number of students since 1992, even though we have nearly 15 million more people.

We hear the daily wails about under paid, over worked, over regulated, and over sued. All of that is most likely true. However, I read of no calls by physicians for "increasing" the supply of doctors, not a peep.

CA is hiring Mexican doctors to serve under contract, for three year terms, in CA. Signs of the times....

I agree. I'm an RN in a NICU. The specialists I work with (neonatologists, peds cardiologists, Peds ID, etc. ) work very hard and are very dedicated to their patients and their professions.

They get paid well, but they earn EVERY penny!!!