Do many doctors regret their decision?

[yazoo]

Originally Posted by gimperial99

The ones who went to the USA and Australia are loving it.

I agree. But this is a self-selected group. My friends who are working overseas, out of choice rather then necessity, would enjoy life anywhere, I think!

I would pick medicine again. I wanted to be a Dr and now I am. I now have other goals I wish to achieve. Some related, some not. Perhaps that is the key, keeping motivated.

[ben_]

James I don't doubt there is a lot of truth to what you say but if you honestly believe you would not be a doctor again what would you do? Lawyer? Accountant? Social worker? Teacher? I'm sure I don't need to tell you that all of these professions have their own sets of misgivings - I also read a board for lawyers where a frequently recurring theme is how they wish they had done medicine instead. Grass is always greener.

[James]

Perhaps your right Ben. It is just so frustrating these days watching SHO's unable to do procedures most house officers were competent at 5 years ago.

[Gizmo says -]

god 'ow would anyone even want to to study or practise law??? thats a true mindfcuk.

accounting?? ave you ever sat in an accounting lecture....?


ealthcare is the best macca, its where we are all gonna be eventualy, so best mek an eadstart!

[ben_]

I work in a large corporate law firm and let me tell you it is boring. I'm not a lawyer but I don't particularly envy them either, despite the fact that most of them probably earn at 2-3 times what I do.

Despite the fact that the job is getting less attractive (in some ways, personally I don't fancy working 100+ hour weeks no matter what the training outcomes) doctors actually enjoy quite a few benefits over other professions. For example, in law people are talking about redundancies because of the markets; not something you have to worry about as an employee of the state. You have desirable skills, professional status, a good salary (despite the recent fall in wages which I agree is grossly unfair). This is without even mentioning the substance of the job itself which to me is far more attractive than sitting at a desk for 30 years.

Obviously, I'm speaking as someone who is not a doctor but from the outside it looks very reasonable, even with knowledge of all the things that James mentioned.

[Gizmo says -]

mmm butthats only between law and medicine, ben.

what about between medicine and the other thousand professions they dont tell you about?

[Zedd]

I do not think medicine is a particularly good route to a steady career considering you may never get the specialist training you would like. Folk might say "just do any specialty you can" but urology ain't the same as oncology and when push comes to shove do you really want to invest years of your career in something you aren't particularly interested in?

I don't think for the amount of hoops you have to jump through (compared to other careers) that the pay is all that unless you go down the GP route which does appear rewarding within a short period of time.

[Gizmo says -]

i'm not sure why peeple knock Gp-ism, apart from snobbism amongst medics borne from the days when they employed false ranks back in posh skools.

[Randolf_Rolm1919]

Agreed with Gizmo. I am interested in General Practice as an example, and to a slightly lesser degree Obstetrics & Gynaecology but I don't see why people don't appreciate medics who don't want to specialize in one field. I find that very ignorant when GP is actually quite an active field and to be honest I'd rather have a broad range of knowledge than more extensive knowldge in one field. It varies with people.

[Gizmo says -]

the only fink that rankles about it is the paper work for me Randy.

i went into 'ealthcare to get away from piles of paperwork.

luv the idea of owning me own practice one day though hehehe.
i am gonna do it up wif warm friendly glowing new age lamps and globes, plus while you waitblood pressure machines, fitness testing machines (and certainly not forgetting cup of tea machines) self made posters on 'ealthy eating and breakdowns of the discusions of 'ouse, robin 'oodie and greenie wing.