are physicians really altruistic?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:The doctor hating on here is so ridiculous. No one is forcing you to see a doctor or have a doctor. When you have an emergency then just treat yourself since they all suck so much. Again just like any profession most people do the work because they like helping people but they also want to be paid fairly for the training they had to endure and to pay off their +200000 loans and to also support their families. Surgeons spend 7+ years in residency crafting their art. At the end of the day, who cares if they are doing it for altruistic reasons? If they can do the surgery you need then that’s all that matters. I don’t see people asking for plumbers to have altruistic reasons to unclog toilets.

Basically, if you don’t like doctors then don’t see them. No one is forcing you.

I would love to skip the doctors appt for routine prescription refills. Such a waste of money and time.

I guess it’s possible that some doctors are needlessly bringing people in but often the standard of care requires reassessment. They have an ethical and professional responsibility to provide appropriate follow up (not to mention they are risk of being sued should they “just send in a refill” inappropriately.)

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Of course they're not altruistic. The hardest to get specialities are ROAD 2 riches, as they're high paying and easy hours. If they were altruistic, family practice and internal medicine wouldn't be struggling to find providers.

But, most doctors are family practice, and pediatrics, and internal medicine.

I have a pediatrician in my family and most of our friends are doctors. Of those, a vast majority are family medicine or some sort of pediatrics. They are all good people who work long hours and are not paid very much compared to their surgeon peers.

The surgeons we know also work long hours but are paid very well and are generally pricks. The shortage of people willing to go into family medicine is driving some of the salaries higher where I live, but still doesn't compare to an adult specialist salary.

I will say this in defense of surgeons.. they can practice medicine for a much shorter time span, so they have a shorter earning window.

And of course drs are not altruistic-- they routinely deny pain meds to people of color even when they know that there are underlying conditions that cause pain and that melanin can protect against sun burn but not physical pain. Defensive medicine is also really bad for patients but that is what they practice.. no-one wants to get sued. The compensation system in the US is cancerous, even the most kind person is going to get caught up. I say this as someone who has ton of physicians in my family and social circle- friends in Australia, Uk and here, lost of Canadian drs who have come here as well as a few in the EU. The US system is bad for morale but they do make a shit ton of $$ comparatively. Drs trained here also are so likely to deny women maternal care.. I hear horror stories all the time about drs trained elsewhere who had to fight their us trained colleagues to give mothers appropriate care but then the NHS ones laugh and say that the maternal care in UK is a horror story for pretty much all women its so bare bones so ..

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:The doctor hating on here is so ridiculous. No one is forcing you to see a doctor or have a doctor. When you have an emergency then just treat yourself since they all suck so much. Again just like any profession most people do the work because they like helping people but they also want to be paid fairly for the training they had to endure and to pay off their +200000 loans and to also support their families. Surgeons spend 7+ years in residency crafting their art. At the end of the day, who cares if they are doing it for altruistic reasons? If they can do the surgery you need then that’s all that matters. I don’t see people asking for plumbers to have altruistic reasons to unclog toilets.

Basically, if you don’t like doctors then don’t see them. No one is forcing you.

I would love to skip the doctors appt for routine prescription refills. Such a waste of money and time.

I guess it’s possible that some doctors are needlessly bringing people in but often the standard of care requires reassessment. They have an ethical and professional responsibility to provide appropriate follow up (not to mention they are risk of being sued should they “just send in a refill” inappropriately.)

I have an HMO and the medications that I've been on for years are just automatically mailed with no need to see a doctor to sign off.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:The doctor hating on here is so ridiculous. No one is forcing you to see a doctor or have a doctor. When you have an emergency then just treat yourself since they all suck so much. Again just like any profession most people do the work because they like helping people but they also want to be paid fairly for the training they had to endure and to pay off their +200000 loans and to also support their families. Surgeons spend 7+ years in residency crafting their art. At the end of the day, who cares if they are doing it for altruistic reasons? If they can do the surgery you need then that’s all that matters. I don’t see people asking for plumbers to have altruistic reasons to unclog toilets.

Basically, if you don’t like doctors then don’t see them. No one is forcing you.

I would love to skip the doctors appt for routine prescription refills. Such a waste of money and time.

I guess it’s possible that some doctors are needlessly bringing people in but often the standard of care requires reassessment. They have an ethical and professional responsibility to provide appropriate follow up (not to mention they are risk of being sued should they “just send in a refill” inappropriately.)

I have an HMO and the medications that I've been on for years are just automatically mailed with no need to see a doctor to sign off.

I think you are confused. The reason why they are sent to you is because the doctor writes a script for 90 days with three refills. These are likely for medicines like BP meds that you have been on for awhile. The doctor still has to see you at regular intervals.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I'm a nurse, so obviously a little different than a doctor, but my experience is that the altruistic ones who get into it because they "really want to help people" are the ones who burn out the quickest. It is important for healthcare workers to care about their patients, of course, but I find that pure altruism is not a great match for the US healthcare system as we know it. The ones who get into nursing because they like science, enjoy problem solving, and like working with people have a much healthier approach to their work and last longer.

I'm also a nurse and I completely agree. Also-some doctors can be outright jerks and have big egos but be really good at what they do, especially surgeons.

[Anonymous]

I can't speak for all doctors but I will say that my mom spent her career in family medicine and OB/GYN. She was basically forced into retirement as her health declined and she faced more age discrimination, but she hung on as long as she could because of her patients. She did everything for her patients. She arguably chose her patients over her own children at some points. She made multiple trips to impoverished places, including extremely dangerous locations, to provide health care to people in dire need. She even testified against the abusive husband of one of her patients once...to protect her patient. She didn't take pharma kickbacks and she obviously treated people who were not insured.

Is that altruism? Was she motivated by helping people, or by how helping people made her feel? Knowing my mother I think it was mostly altruism and doing what was right. I'm sure it made her feel good, too. But at that point, does it even matter? I don't know what the dividing line would be -- if you saved X number of lives and did Y humanitarian aid missions to Z countries, then you're altruistic -- that's rather ridiculous. But clearly altruistic doctors exist.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:What is wrong with wanting to be paid for the work you do? What other field doesn’t get paid for their efforts? Why would someone slave away studying for years and not want to be fairly compensated?

I can think of plenty that don’t get paid enough for their education and efforts.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:The doctor hating on here is so ridiculous. No one is forcing you to see a doctor or have a doctor. When you have an emergency then just treat yourself since they all suck so much. Again just like any profession most people do the work because they like helping people but they also want to be paid fairly for the training they had to endure and to pay off their +200000 loans and to also support their families. Surgeons spend 7+ years in residency crafting their art. At the end of the day, who cares if they are doing it for altruistic reasons? If they can do the surgery you need then that’s all that matters. I don’t see people asking for plumbers to have altruistic reasons to unclog toilets.

Basically, if you don’t like doctors then don’t see them. No one is forcing you.

I would love to skip the doctors appt for routine prescription refills. Such a waste of money and time.

I guess it’s possible that some doctors are needlessly bringing people in but often the standard of care requires reassessment. They have an ethical and professional responsibility to provide appropriate follow up (not to mention they are risk of being sued should they “just send in a refill” inappropriately.)

People call my doctor husband after two years of not coming into the office demanding a refill. Of course, he has to ask that they visit first. He has a responsibility to prescribe meds responsibly and ethically as the above poster stated. Happens all the time.
He does not charge co-pays to those who cannot afford the co-pay. Very altrustic. And no, he isn't making the salary of most of these law firm partners running around here and works harder.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:The doctor hating on here is so ridiculous. No one is forcing you to see a doctor or have a doctor. When you have an emergency then just treat yourself since they all suck so much. Again just like any profession most people do the work because they like helping people but they also want to be paid fairly for the training they had to endure and to pay off their +200000 loans and to also support their families. Surgeons spend 7+ years in residency crafting their art. At the end of the day, who cares if they are doing it for altruistic reasons? If they can do the surgery you need then that’s all that matters. I don’t see people asking for plumbers to have altruistic reasons to unclog toilets.

Basically, if you don’t like doctors then don’t see them. No one is forcing you.

I would love to skip the doctors appt for routine prescription refills. Such a waste of money and time.

I guess it’s possible that some doctors are needlessly bringing people in but often the standard of care requires reassessment. They have an ethical and professional responsibility to provide appropriate follow up (not to mention they are risk of being sued should they “just send in a refill” inappropriately.)

People call my doctor husband after two years of not coming into the office demanding a refill. Of course, he has to ask that they visit first. He has a responsibility to prescribe meds responsibly and ethically as the above poster stated. Happens all the time.
He does not charge co-pays to those who cannot afford the co-pay. Very altrustic. And no, he isn't making the salary of most of these law firm partners running around here and works harder.

In the US, this is a felony, unless he is NOT charging insurance for the insurance part of payment. You cannot legally charge the insurance and not charge the copay if the copay is a part of the contractual agreement between the insurer and the patient -- this violates the Federal False Claims Act.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:The doctor hating on here is so ridiculous. No one is forcing you to see a doctor or have a doctor. When you have an emergency then just treat yourself since they all suck so much. Again just like any profession most people do the work because they like helping people but they also want to be paid fairly for the training they had to endure and to pay off their +200000 loans and to also support their families. Surgeons spend 7+ years in residency crafting their art. At the end of the day, who cares if they are doing it for altruistic reasons? If they can do the surgery you need then that’s all that matters. I don’t see people asking for plumbers to have altruistic reasons to unclog toilets.

Basically, if you don’t like doctors then don’t see them. No one is forcing you.

I would love to skip the doctors appt for routine prescription refills. Such a waste of money and time.

I guess it’s possible that some doctors are needlessly bringing people in but often the standard of care requires reassessment. They have an ethical and professional responsibility to provide appropriate follow up (not to mention they are risk of being sued should they “just send in a refill” inappropriately.)

People call my doctor husband after two years of not coming into the office demanding a refill. Of course, he has to ask that they visit first. He has a responsibility to prescribe meds responsibly and ethically as the above poster stated. Happens all the time.
He does not charge co-pays to those who cannot afford the co-pay. Very altrustic. And no, he isn't making the salary of most of these law firm partners running around here and works harder.

In the US, this is a felony, unless he is NOT charging insurance for the insurance part of payment. You cannot legally charge the insurance and not charge the copay if the copay is a part of the contractual agreement between the insurer and the patient -- this violates the Federal False Claims Act.

Huh what? Really?

Another way of looking at it is that he’s opting not to collect on medical debt (which would
Be his choice), which I understand is different than just not charging copays. Is it really illegal
For a doctor to just take whatever insurance gives them and let the patient off the hook on the copay?!???

I guess I understand the rationale - that it would lessen the likelihood of false claims, but if that’s really the law then the law is wrong. A doctor should be able
to choose whether to bill a patient. The patient’s copay has no bearing on what the insurance will pay because they pay assuming that the patient was
Charged.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:The doctor hating on here is so ridiculous. No one is forcing you to see a doctor or have a doctor. When you have an emergency then just treat yourself since they all suck so much. Again just like any profession most people do the work because they like helping people but they also want to be paid fairly for the training they had to endure and to pay off their +200000 loans and to also support their families. Surgeons spend 7+ years in residency crafting their art. At the end of the day, who cares if they are doing it for altruistic reasons? If they can do the surgery you need then that’s all that matters. I don’t see people asking for plumbers to have altruistic reasons to unclog toilets.

Basically, if you don’t like doctors then don’t see them. No one is forcing you.

I would love to skip the doctors appt for routine prescription refills. Such a waste of money and time.

I guess it’s possible that some doctors are needlessly bringing people in but often the standard of care requires reassessment. They have an ethical and professional responsibility to provide appropriate follow up (not to mention they are risk of being sued should they “just send in a refill” inappropriately.)

People call my doctor husband after two years of not coming into the office demanding a refill. Of course, he has to ask that they visit first. He has a responsibility to prescribe meds responsibly and ethically as the above poster stated. Happens all the time.
He does not charge co-pays to those who cannot afford the co-pay. Very altrustic. And no, he isn't making the salary of most of these law firm partners running around here and works harder.

In the US, this is a felony, unless he is NOT charging insurance for the insurance part of payment. You cannot legally charge the insurance and not charge the copay if the copay is a part of the contractual agreement between the insurer and the patient -- this violates the Federal False Claims Act.

This seems not to be the case:

https://www.whistleblowerllc.com/copay-waiver/

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:The doctor hating on here is so ridiculous. No one is forcing you to see a doctor or have a doctor. When you have an emergency then just treat yourself since they all suck so much. Again just like any profession most people do the work because they like helping people but they also want to be paid fairly for the training they had to endure and to pay off their +200000 loans and to also support their families. Surgeons spend 7+ years in residency crafting their art. At the end of the day, who cares if they are doing it for altruistic reasons? If they can do the surgery you need then that’s all that matters. I don’t see people asking for plumbers to have altruistic reasons to unclog toilets.

Basically, if you don’t like doctors then don’t see them. No one is forcing you.

I would love to skip the doctors appt for routine prescription refills. Such a waste of money and time.

I guess it’s possible that some doctors are needlessly bringing people in but often the standard of care requires reassessment. They have an ethical and professional responsibility to provide appropriate follow up (not to mention they are risk of being sued should they “just send in a refill” inappropriately.)

People call my doctor husband after two years of not coming into the office demanding a refill. Of course, he has to ask that they visit first. He has a responsibility to prescribe meds responsibly and ethically as the above poster stated. Happens all the time.
He does not charge co-pays to those who cannot afford the co-pay. Very altrustic. And no, he isn't making the salary of most of these law firm partners running around here and works harder.

In the US, this is a felony, unless he is NOT charging insurance for the insurance part of payment. You cannot legally charge the insurance and not charge the copay if the copay is a part of the contractual agreement between the insurer and the patient -- this violates the Federal False Claims Act.

This seems not to be the case:

https://www.whistleblowerllc.com/copay-waiver/

BTW do you practice in this area of law? If so then this concerns me. It took me about 35 seconds on google to figure out your claim was not true. I wish people would think before calling someone else a felon. But. this is the internet after all.

[Anonymous]

Doctors order unnecessary tests. I know someone who went to see a dr regarding pain in his leg, dr sent him to the ER because of a suspected blood clot, which proved to be false

All that hassle, expense and wait all for nothing
Might as well not have gone to a dr, since the pain is still there

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:The doctor hating on here is so ridiculous. No one is forcing you to see a doctor or have a doctor. When you have an emergency then just treat yourself since they all suck so much. Again just like any profession most people do the work because they like helping people but they also want to be paid fairly for the training they had to endure and to pay off their +200000 loans and to also support their families. Surgeons spend 7+ years in residency crafting their art. At the end of the day, who cares if they are doing it for altruistic reasons? If they can do the surgery you need then that’s all that matters. I don’t see people asking for plumbers to have altruistic reasons to unclog toilets.

Basically, if you don’t like doctors then don’t see them. No one is forcing you.

Agree with this!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:The doctor hating on here is so ridiculous. No one is forcing you to see a doctor or have a doctor. When you have an emergency then just treat yourself since they all suck so much. Again just like any profession most people do the work because they like helping people but they also want to be paid fairly for the training they had to endure and to pay off their +200000 loans and to also support their families. Surgeons spend 7+ years in residency crafting their art. At the end of the day, who cares if they are doing it for altruistic reasons? If they can do the surgery you need then that’s all that matters. I don’t see people asking for plumbers to have altruistic reasons to unclog toilets.

Basically, if you don’t like doctors then don’t see them. No one is forcing you.

I would love to skip the doctors appt for routine prescription refills. Such a waste of money and time.

I guess it’s possible that some doctors are needlessly bringing people in but often the standard of care requires reassessment. They have an ethical and professional responsibility to provide appropriate follow up (not to mention they are risk of being sued should they “just send in a refill” inappropriately.)

Appropriate follow up would be great. I’ve had doctors ask me to come back after 30 days. Makes sense if the meds are causing side effects and I need to shift to something else. I don’t see how anything more than a phone call is necessary if the medicine is working. Why do I need to take time off work for a five minute visit that costs more than $100? What health care is being provided in that scenario? People should be able to sign waivers for low risk medications so they can be bought over the counter.