Quote:
Originally Posted by hobbes9324
"Unless the government is going to pay you, why are you obligated to do anything?"
Well, in my line of work, I'm compelled by statute to care for the patient irregardless of their ability to pay, if there is an emergent condition present. Until about 3 years ago, that meant about 35% of patients I saw paid me nothing. It's down to about 15% or so now.
Which I'm fine with. I make a more than adequate living either way. But yeah, if I want to keep my liscense/ability to practice, you're goddam right I have to take care of that patient.
"Why do doctors have a moral obligation to do their job without compensation?"
I took the Hippocratic oath. Among other things it states "I will remember that I remain a member of society, with special obligations to all my fellow human beings, those sound of mind and body as well as the infirm."
I know it's old fashioned, but I took it seriously when I swore to it. Nothing has changed how I feel. Doesn't mean I don't like to get paid. But to me, it's part of the deal of being a doc, and the (mostly) good things that come with it.
MM MD
Your oath was to do no harm.
Your oath is old fashioned and only has been used against you.
You are a provider for an insurance company and an unpaid salesperson for a pharmacy company. You are not allowed to unionize. You have to certify every ten years. You have the DEA watching you. Medicare penalties (and ignorance doesn't matter) can be criminal.
You are also a documenter in an EMR system that was thrust upon you that you spend twice as long with as a patient. The CDC is telling you how many pain pills you can prescribe. Most of America sees doctors as the reason of the opioid epidemic. If doctors didn't prescribe pills, people wouldn't get it.
Your patients are angrier and more frustrated and you are one of the few people that they can vent that frustration. They still think you are rich. They don't want to pay for anything. You are required to do the prior-auth for them and are legally forbidden to charge for that. And you cannot even say anything bad about the insurance company. Because there is a non-disparagement clause. And 10% of your colleagues are sociopaths. And 100% of hospital administrators who view you as a cost center and irritant. Especially if you bed days per thousand are too high or your admissions are above the national average of 15.1%.
You have to stabilize an emergency. You don't have to treat anyone. You are a professional who provides services that should be compensated.