The problem is not with physicians, rather its a structural problem with the American political system. I have no doubt that you and many of your colleagues ar

The problem is not with physicians, rather its a structural problem with the American political system. I have no doubt that you and many of your colleagues are compassionate and well intentioned. But you also pay dues to an organization that has a political lobbying arm. This is of course, entirely understandable. Washington has a ton of power, power which can be used to steam roll you. Thus you support an organization that has a goal of looking out for your interests in Washington. It does so quite well. Too well, in fact. As a result of AMA lobbying, America has far fewer doctors than most other developed countries. The result is higher prices for consumers, and no evidence of better care. See: http://blogs.law.harvard.edu/philg/2009/04/05/the-futility-of-trying-to-control-health-care-costs-in-a-country-short-of-doctors/ http://blogs.law.harvard.edu/philg/2009/04/05/the-futility-o... Again, I don't blame the doctors, I blame the design of the political system that creates constant factional fighting over the resources of the country, with some factions getting screwed and others doing the screwing. ( Oh Madison, how wrong you were ... ) Part of the way the restrictions of new doctors work is by restricting medical schools. This of course drives up the price of medical schools, sending doctors into massive debt. Frankly, there is no reason that doctors need four years of college on top of four years of college on top of four years of high school. I'm sure the whole thing could be compressed into eight years, as other countries have done. For new doctors, loosening the barriers to entry would be a Pareto optimum improvement. Salaries would fall, but so would the costs of schooling. Overall the public would benefit without harming new doctors. But existing doctors would get screwed, as you point out. To be fair, any reducing of the barriers to entry should include compensation for current doctors.