“ They’ve helped ensure that American medical training remains second to none. Not just in quality, but in difficulty. The years of unpaid labor, the crushing d

“ They’ve helped ensure that American medical training remains second to none. Not just in quality, but in difficulty. The years of unpaid labor, the crushing debt, the endless exams — it’s not a flaw, it’s a filter. Without those standards, the profession would lose its weight, its dignity. If becoming a doctor were simply a matter of competence and compassion, we’d all be wearing name tags and making $60,000 a year. But thanks to the AMA, we’ve maintained the sanctity of the white coat. We’ve ensured that when a patient walks into an American clinic, they know they’re not seeing someone who just slipped through the cracks. They’re seeing someone who’s been tested, refined, and yes — financially punished enough to demand respect.” But somehow the system doesn’t manage to sort out doctors who are alcoholics, repeatedly injure patients and don’t listen to patients. I like this paragraph too “ If becoming a doctor were simply a matter of competence and compassion, we’d all be wearing name tags and making $60,000 a year.” Competence and compassion should be the number one criteria for a doctor. Not having a chip on their shoulder because they survived an abusive system.