Jul 08, 2004 07:29 PM
6664 Views
(Updated Jul 08, 2004 07:29 PM)
I opted for medicine a long time ago and am today a practicing doctor in this huge city. All of 17 years when I joined medical college ( those were undoubtedly the best years of my life!!) I am not so sure that I made the best career choice.
Of course, those days the number of options one had was a far cry from what is available to today's youngsters. My mum, herself a busy obstetrician, tried hard to discourage me.. I had (still have!) a flair for languages and would do well as a linguist, she opined.
It is the crass commercialisation of medicine that bothers both my husband and me. We have doctors in huge numbers.. all confined to our cities and towns. Even if one were to want to work in the rural areas, it is really not all that easy in practical terms. Finding a job in a city hospital of any repute is difficult, adjusting to it's work ethic even more so, especially if there is a conflict with your own.
Both of us are in referral based specialities, where more often than not some sort of commission is expected by referring doctors, if one is in practice. This seems to have become the rule in the medical profession, rather than the exception. Both of us are vehemently against this practice..it goes against the very essence of the medical profession.
Of course it is possible to make a mark for oneself without resorting to such 'trade practices'...it is only that the incubation period is that much longer. I am fortunate enough to be able to work in an ethically clean environment in a large general hospital where I am professionally more than satisfied. My hubby is on his own ..... it has taken him several years to establish himself, but he seems to have finally settled down in practice.
Medicine as a career option has definitely lost its sheen. Its a long road where one could go on giving some exam or the other. Some of my classmates have only recently finished with their superspecialisation in their forties.. it has been that much more difficult, with families, work, and of course age catching up with you. If you wish to remain with the minority that believes medicine is not a business, I believe things will be that much harder. Add to that the difficulties faced by doctors from the third world trying to immigrate to the west.. not a cakewalk by any standards.
We already discourage our children from taking up the profession. Many youngsters tell us 'if you could do it, why not us?' My answer to that is simple.. We've learnt the hard way.. hope things are easier for you guys in this hugely competitive world!!
The idea behind writing this is that if you have other avenues under consideration besides medicine, don't just let them go if you gain admission into medical school. Weigh your pros and cons carefully.. even though it may be tough at the age one is expected to make this difficult choice.
