Older Physicians Looking for an Out

Health care as we know it could be seeing big changes according to this article. Malpractice insurance and long hours are bringing older physicians down, and the majority of physicians over 50 said they would disencourage their children to seek becoming doctors. The number of unsatisfied physicians has increased dramatically over the last three years, and an exodus of well train physicians would send American healthcare spiraling. It is for some of these reasons that many good physicians leave to United States to practice in Europe, where practice laws are more lienient. The government knows this, and makes it very difficult for doctors to do this.

I find this article interesting because there will always be the struggle of healthcare being a business or a service. It is generally agreed that over time healthcare has become more of a business practice, but at the same time I believe we can never put a price on human life. If there is a mass exodus of physicians, we might see more financial or professional flexibility in healthcare. Since a good chunk of biomedical engineers go on to become docotors, this could affect what we choose to do after our undergraduate education.

http://www.medpagetoday.com/Psychiatry/PainManagement/tb/7103