Do-Gooder Doctors?

An article in the Sunday Washington Post yesterday (May 31,2009) by Harlan Krumholtz discussed how more doctors are likely to report turning to medicine for job stability than to fulfill a need to "do-good" and help people. The author goes on to report that doctors in job interviews now look for opportunities to have time to go to a child's soccer game and he reports that a survey asking if doctor's would be willing to work more hours even for more money received few affirmative responses.

I may be missing the boat here, but that seems like nothing to complain about at all. It seems that more doctors each focused on fewer hours would prevent burnout and delay the glossing over of one's eyes from seeing too many patients and problems in a day, month, year. It would allow different perspectives and opinions into the hospitals and clinics, so a patient could perhaps easily seek two great minds instead of one, for what is to them their ultimate concern of their health. It also seems to me, that greater social networking of doctors with society in their free time may enhance their empathy. Even the author of the post article, had framed the discussion the in context of a friend seeking medical advice. Perhaps if doctors engage in their children's schools, community picnics or recreational activities they will come into contact with more of those real world problems in people that inspire their work and put a face with a diagnosis.

I ought to note that the article did not focus on these points above for long and overall brought to bare a great discussion on accountability measures for doctors and hospitals. It suggested that by collecting and reporting on patient data/doctor success we would allow patients to choose based on quality care, which is how we are accustomed to choosing even the most trivial things like hair cuts. So there is no need to be left high and dry when trying to choose in whose hands to place our safety. Accountability is the way to discover which successful practices to propagate and which failing practices to abort, it is the way to progress to a stronger medical system, and yet he notes, there is little incentive to become accountable. The article itself is insightful and important and by nitpicking my few points, I don't mean to appear to disagree.

I guess it's just after seeing how hard my do-gooder doctor friends work in their fields, that I need to suggest a more sensitive system to them as people. As their happiness and health, like an another, should not be disregarded lightly.