is Democratic ticket a nightmare for physicians!!!

[skb21]

So it is wrong of me to attempt to show a homosexual the light and tell him/her that he/she needs to change his/her lifestyle?

I guess this means, if a patient comes to me for an abortion, I don't have the right to tell that patient that I don't do abortions.

---

Members don't see this ad.

 

[skb21]

The difference between some of you and I is that some of you have all these altruistic feelings right now. I'm willing to bet that three quarters of you that have these altruistic feelings now will become very jaded by the time your rotations are up, and if not then, then once residency is over. I, on the other hand, have no qualms about speaking my mind. If that makes me an dingus, so be it.

None of this overshadows the fact that if you vote democrat, you are voting against the future of this profession and against all family and moral values. George W Bush may not be the best guy out there, but he is the best until Dr. Bill Frist is ready to run in 2008.

 

[Astroman]

So it is wrong of me to attempt to show a homosexual the light and tell him/her that he/she needs to change his/her lifestyle?

Yes. It is wrong. "Attempt" that with the wrong person and you could easily lose your job. You've got a lot to learn about medicine in the real world, buddy.

And it's YOU that hasn't even started medical school. Once our "rotations" are up??? Most of us are PHYSICIANS.

 

[Catfish John]

With that kind of an attitude, you can see why I seriously question whether you truly will treat homosexuals the same way you would treat one of your fellow parishoners.

What's that line in the bible about "hating the sin". but "loving the sinner"?

Whatever his personal views are, publicly expressing that quote is perhaps the most disgusting thing I have ever read by a medical student. It makes me ashamed to even consider calling this guy my colleague.

I have known medical students who failed clerkships and were put on suspension for behavior far more tame than expressed in that quote.

Any half respectable medical school would take some time to examine whether or not Keith Box can handle the enormous responsiblity to becoming a physician with attitudes like that.

 

[azcomdiddy]

Kerry just assured himself that not a single physician will vote Democrat...even the independent voters like me. It looks like Dubya gets my vote (I can't stand Bush, but I can't stand malpractice lawyers even more).

My sentiments exactly. I don't dig conservative and religious war mongers like Bush but attorneys are far worse. Gotta go Republican!

 

[azcomdiddy]

Lawyers are protecting their turf why are physicians are so stupid and can't even wipe themselves....

We have to be united....we have to push fowards the reform....

It's because we are not business people or politicians. The problem is at the very root of what constitutes a physician. Physicians are scientists first and business people second. Their priorities do not involve organizing groups and protecting financial costs. Physicians are absolutely terrible at this and I don't think it will change. Dentists are accomplishing this because the dentists are more like business people at heart than physicians. The ADA is far more organized and their policies ensure the protection of dentists everywhere. Not only does the ADA do a far better job controlling the supply of dental schools, they also help mandate legislation that forces foreign trained dentists to attend a dental school in the U.S. before practicing here. This is why you don't see Caribean dental schools emerging every year and FMG dentists emigrating here. Nothing will change until physicians get nasty, more organized, and less idealistic like everyone on this forum has been advocating.

 

[Seaglass]

I'm a physician and I'm voting for Kerry. So there!

C

 

[meggriffin]

this makes me sad. I am applying to medical school as we speak. I thought that doctors were moral and caring people. I guess I forgot that most of them are infact in it for the money. I don't like the idea of medical malpractice either, but if a doctor really does ruin someone's life... what else is there to do. I can't believe, and I am very disappointed to know that a group of intelligent people would vote for a lazy, money hungry, incompetent *****.... just so if they f*ck up in the future, they will get off the hook paying less than they would otherwise. Bush started a WAR for his personal gain. John Kerry and John Edwards need to be elected. THEY might not even be able to fix the mess Bush has created, but I know for certain the Bush administration won't. The biggest problem facing malpractice is that most poor people in this country keep getting poorer. What is the qucikest way to get rich? hmmmm sue a doctor. Our economy sucks and everyone else in the world hates us. I am scared to know that some physicians are so selfish, they would vote for a PRESIDENTIAL candidate based on who is best for their pocketbooks. I thought only lawyers and CEOs did that.

 

[Astroman]

Nice, meggriffin. Welcome.

Got this today... thought it was pretty funny.


With increasing pressure on the FCC to step up its
role as censor, finding language that appropriately
communicates the depths of one?s feeling (especially
when speaking on the record or within earshot of the
press) while remaining within the bounds of propriety
has become difficult. As a public-spirited move, I am
recommending to my fellow elected officials ? and to
others engaged in public controversies ? a semantic
solution to this dilemma: use the word "Cheney" where
discretion is required in the expression of
frustration, anger, or extreme derision.

Here are some examples of how this would work.

? Go Cheney yourself.

? How the Cheney would I know?

? Cheney you.

? I don?t give a flying Cheney.

? Who the Cheney do you think you are?

In some cases, substitution of Cheney for its synonym
would be particularly appropriate. For example:

? George Bush sure has Cheneyed up the situation in
Iraq.

? The Bush administration?s position is that it is
none of our Cheneying business who helped formulate
its pro-oil energy policy.

? In some cases, Halliburton seems to be Cheneying the
American taxpayer.

Vice-President Cheney himself said after using the
blunter word that it made him feel better. It makes me
feel better to suggest a way of expressing the same
sentiments while paying appropriate tribute to the
vice-president?s role in our society.

 

[trapper john]

Megan, your naivety while touching is very dangerous. The medical maplractice crisis is not about doctor "greed". It's about the future of this profession and its ability to survive. The 250K cap isn't about not compensating individuals who are truly hurt. It's a cap on non economic damages to prevent emotional juries from awarding millions to people who wouldn't even see thousands in their lifetime.

More than that, this crisis is due to IMMORAL crooks like John Edwards who exploit the system. 70-80% of all malpractice suits are frivolous, but due to the fear of enormous jury verdicts, few insurance companies are willing to fight these criminals unless there is absolutely no other choice.

John Edwards didn't make his money going after doctors who cut off the wrong leg. He sued OB's for the "brain injury/birth trauma /CP which is based on junk science and already is increasing the C-section rate everywhere. His type of bogus pseudoscience is driving up the rates of malpractice for OB's so high that many are no longer delivering babies. You want to talk about real impact on health care availabilty??? Try having to go 200 miles from home to find someone to deliver your baby.

What's just as bad is the effect on trauma providers. Neurosurgeons who have spent 7 years of pure hell in residency, while their loan interest accrues, and have never been sued are paying 85-100K for insurance. When a trauma center loses it's neurosurgeon, it's no longer level 1. Do you know what the golden hour of trauma is??? You have a one hour window after a severe trauma to get to a level 1 center if there is hope for survival. I heard from my friend in Missouri that they recently lost a center in one of the outlying city areas because the neurisurgeon couldn't afford the malpractice rates.. A severe car accident occurred, and the nearest trauma center was 70 miles away. By the time the patient was transported there, it was too late: DOA

One last thing: Until you've sweated through years of 80-100 weeks, and busted your butt innumerable times trying to save someone's life, DON'T YOU DARE COME ON HERE AND TELL US HOW "GREEDY" WE ARE!!!!

 

[HamOnWholeWheat]

Megan, your naivety while touching is very dangerous. The medical maplractice crisis is not about doctor "greed". It's about the future of this profession and its ability to survive. The 250K cap isn't about not compensating individuals who are truly hurt. It's a cap on non economic damages to prevent emotional juries from awarding millions to people who wouldn't even see thousands in their lifetime.

More than that, this crisis is due to IMMORAL crooks like John Edwards who exploit the system. 70-80% of all malpractice suits are frivolous, but due to the fear of enormous jury verdicts, few insurance companies are willing to fight these criminals unless there is absolutely no other choice.

John Edwards didn't make his money going after doctors who cut off the wrong leg. He sued OB's for the "brain injury/birth trauma /CP which is based on junk science and already is increasing the C-section rate everywhere. His type of bogus pseudoscience is driving up the rates of malpractice for OB's so high that many are no longer delivering babies. You want to talk about real impact on health care availabilty??? Try having to go 200 miles from home to find someone to deliver your baby.

What's just as bad is the effect on trauma providers. Neurosurgeons who have spent 7 years of pure hell in residency, while their loan interest accrues, and have never been sued are paying 85-100K for insurance. When a trauma center loses it's neurosurgeon, it's no longer level 1. Do you know what the golden hour of trauma is??? You have a one hour window after a severe trauma to get to a level 1 center if there is hope for survival. I heard from my friend in Missouri that they recently lost a center in one of the outlying city areas because the neurisurgeon couldn't afford the malpractice rates.. A severe car accident occurred, and the nearest trauma center was 70 miles away. By the time the patient was transported there, it was too late: DOA

One last thing: Until you've sweated through years of 80-100 weeks, and busted your butt innumerable times trying to save someone's life, DON'T YOU DARE COME ON HERE AND TELL US HOW "GREEDY" WE ARE!!!!

I think you may have missed her point entirely.

She was talking about the scope of the office of presidency. She was making the point that a lot of people on this board sound like they're making medical malpractice the only issue which will determine their vote. In doing so, they're elevating an economic situation above the needs of those fighting a pointless war. By missing that part of the argument, your response proved her point.

And yes, I do agree that driving 200 miles to see an OB/GYN is a bunch of crap, but its not worth sanctioning a war over.

HamOn

 

[ortho2003]

I think you may have missed her point entirely.

She was talking about the scope of the office of presidency. She was making the point that a lot of people on this board sound like they're making medical malpractice the only issue which will determine their vote. In doing so, they're elevating an economic situation above the needs of those fighting a pointless war. By missing that part of the argument, your response proved her point.

And yes, I do agree that driving 200 miles to see an OB/GYN is a bunch of crap, but its not worth sanctioning a war over.

HamOn

I am so sick of everyone over here watching TV calling this a pointless war. Why don't you talk to a few of the vets who have returned, or to some of the guys that are over there. If you watch the interviews from the soldiers, 90% of them feel this war is far from pointless. Better yet, ask 90% of the now free Iraqis who run up to US soldiers and thank shake their hands and thank them, rather than looking at the militant few that are performing the car bombings and kidnappings if they feel this was a pointless war.

 

[Ratch]

there are a number of african countries where the situation (war, government, or lack thereof) was and is alot worse than it was in iraq. we aren't there helping those folks. there's no oil reserves in africa. pretty simple.
so you are correct, the war is not pointless. it is freeing the iraqi people, but there are alot of other places we should've went if that was our goal, as you seem to describe. obviously the WMD argument as well as iraq being an emminate threat holds as much water as a seive, so the only one left is that we were freeing them from tyranny and beating up on a dictator who threatened W's daddy...

 

[Tristero]

I hate how John Edwards has made his money, and I am a staunch advocate of tort reform. I worked hard with my friends to get signature at the University of Miami for the November medical malpractice vote. The support for our cause was strong. If we are going to "slay the malpractice demon", we need to first dispel the popular view that doctors are spoiled, rich, and privileged. The trial lawyers have been extremely effective in spreading this untruth.

To those of you talking about the average income of an American or that doctors are overpaid--what the hell are you talking about? Find me a plumber or real estate agent who is willing to drive 20 minutes to their place of business to treat a customer at 4 AM on a Saturday morning. As practicing physicians, both of my parents do this on a regular basis. They are not exceptions, they are the rule. Do you idealistic blowhards know what it's like to get spat on by a drugged out AIDs patient after you have been up for 24 hours? It happened to a resident friend of mine the other day. While my friends in law school and business school are out at happy hour drinking beer, most pre-meds are studying or doing research. They are some of the most distiguished students in their respective universities and institutions. If they don't deserve a good salary, who does? The insurance companies? the HMO CEOs? the drug companies?

Who cares if Keith Box is a bigot? I'm going to let you in on a little secret, there are millions more with his views--they're called the moral majority. While I disagree with most of his personal views, discrediting what he has to say about medical malpractice on the basis of those views is irresponsible and unfair. He is right, the medical malpractice crisis is very real and very frightening, and it affects our very livelihood. OBs and trauma surgeons are running for the hills in Florida, and who knows how healthcare will be in the next 10 years.

On our side of the ring, we have ineffectual organizations like AMA and quasi-socialist AMSA-who opposed tort reform in their quest to establish socialized healthcare (another form of healthacre rationing--for those of you who think this is the answer to our healthcare problems, you are naive and misinformed).

That being said, I am voting for Kerry/Edwards. I am not going to vote on the basis of a single issues, like the majority of Americans in this elections. I am voting for the platform that I feel best represents my views. Keeping Edwards out of office will not prevent a decline in medicine. The problem is much larger in scope and complexity than Edwards has control over. I would love to see Frist in office in 4 years, but in this election, I am voting Kerry/Edwards.

More of us need to get out of the labs and clinics and bust our asses to protect our interests. Lobbying groups are what matter in Washington, and this is a point of issue where the AMA has failed time and time again. Neither party is looking out for our interests- only we can. For you idealists- WAKE UP- the law makers, healthcare companies, insurance companies, trial lawyers, and even some patients are against you.

How can you say that doctors are greedy? How can someone literally devote their lives to saving other lives and be slandered in such a way? It's time to stop this stupid infighting, and enact some real change. Neither Bush nor Kerry will provide it, only we can.

 

[flighterdoc]

there are a number of african countries where the situation (war, government, or lack thereof) was and is alot worse than it was in iraq. we aren't there helping those folks. there's no oil reserves in africa. pretty simple.
so you are correct, the war is not pointless. it is freeing the iraqi people, but there are alot of other places we should've went if that was our goal, as you seem to describe. obviously the WMD argument as well as iraq being an emminate threat holds as much water as a seive, so the only one left is that we were freeing them from tyranny and beating up on a dictator who threatened W's daddy...

OK, so answer a question:

Should the United States unilaterally enter the Sudan and correct the problems there?

Please note that the UN, France, Germany and a number of other countries are completely opposed to any action in Sudan (mainly because THEY have oil interests there, and it's to their advanatage to maintain the Khartoum government).

Now, if you answered "yes", can you explain to me why it's acceptable to invade the Sudan (where the US has few if any financial interests) but not Iraq (where we had financial, humanitarian and defense issues)?

If you answered "no", why did you bring it up in the first place?

 

[HamOnWholeWheat]

I am so sick of everyone over here watching TV calling this a pointless war. Why don't you talk to a few of the vets who have returned, or to some of the guys that are over there. If you watch the interviews from the soldiers, 90% of them feel this war is far from pointless. Better yet, ask 90% of the now free Iraqis who run up to US soldiers and thank shake their hands and thank them, rather than looking at the militant few that are performing the car bombings and kidnappings if they feel this was a pointless war.

The consensus at my Guard unit, who just got back from being deployed, is that its a pointless war. Good enough for me.

 

[flighterdoc]

The consensus at my Guard unit, who just got back from being deployed, is that its a pointless war. Good enough for me.

You interviewed every single deployed member and determined the consensus was that?

Just out of curiosity, what sort of guard unit was it? Where did they deploy to?

And did you deploy?

 

[Ratch]

flightdoc: can you then tell me who, that is an actual power (aside from the obvious war nations like trinidad or the poland), agreed wholeheatedly with us to enter iraq? i am just saying that if we are planning on have a unilateralist approach to stopping conflicts, we need to be a bit more discreet in our rationale behind it. its simply my two cents, take it for what its worth.

 

[flighterdoc]

flightdoc: can you then tell me who, that is an actual power (aside from the obvious war nations like trinidad or the poland), agreed wholeheatedly with us to enter iraq? i am just saying that if we are planning on have a unilateralist approach to stopping conflicts, we need to be a bit more discreet in our rationale behind it. its simply my two cents, take it for what its worth.

Britain
Australia
Spain
Italy
to name a few.

Now, do you want to answer my questions?

 

[HamOnWholeWheat]

You interviewed every single deployed member and determined the consensus was that?

Just out of curiosity, what sort of guard unit was it? Where did they deploy to?

And did you deploy?

Yeah, I asked every single person and their families and everyone they ever met. Or, I talked with about 10 or 12 guys who just got back and not one of them had a single positive thing to say about it. I only asked a few of them who they were voting for and they generally looked at me funny and said "not Bush". One guy did say Bush, but he was the OG/CC (who hadn't deployed), but I figure he can say whatever the hell he wants and not catch too much flak over it.

Its a fighter wing in the ANG, and not the whole unit was deployed. The unit's MP's and medical staff were cannibalized and sent out with a load of reserves. I was not sent out as I'm neither an MP or Medical (ironically). I believe they were in Baghdad and some in Karbalah (sp?) for most of the deployment. I should know for sure, but I got all this info at UTA over a ridiculous number of Long-islands in the O/E-club.

By the way, no offense, but the tone of your message came off with an aire of anger in that "I'm entitled to an explanation" kind of way. Not everyone in the military believes this is a just war. That doesn't mean we don't do our jobs.

 

[Astroman]

Britain
Australia
Spain
Italy
to name a few.

Yep, that's the few. "The Coalition of the Willing"... what a joke.

 

[flighterdoc]

Yep, that's the few. "The Coalition of the Willing"... what a joke.

There were over 60 countries.

 

[flighterdoc]

Yeah, I asked every single person and their families and everyone they ever met. Or, I talked with about 10 or 12 guys who just got back and not one of them had a single positive thing to say about it. I only asked a few of them who they were voting for and they generally looked at me funny and said "not Bush". One guy did say Bush, but he was the OG/CC (who hadn't deployed), but I figure he can say whatever the hell he wants and not catch too much flak over it.

Its a fighter wing in the ANG, and not the whole unit was deployed. The unit's MP's and medical staff were cannibalized and sent out with a load of reserves. I was not sent out as I'm neither an MP or Medical (ironically). I believe they were in Baghdad and some in Karbalah (sp?) for most of the deployment. I should know for sure, but I got all this info at UTA over a ridiculous number of Long-islands in the O/E-club.

By the way, no offense, but the tone of your message came off with an aire of anger in that "I'm entitled to an explanation" kind of way. Not everyone in the military believes this is a just war. That doesn't mean we don't do our jobs.

That comes from being a Colonel. BTW, when did the Air Guard start having MP's? We had SP's.

 

[Catfish John]

Yes, the coalition of the willing...



Iraq Troop numbers March 2004


Total # Troops, Troops/100,000 population, Troops/1000 military

1 USA 130,000 47.7 94.8
2 United Kingdom 9,000 15.2 42.4
3 Italy 3,000 5.3 11.3
4 Poland 2,460 6.7 10.2
5 Ukraine 1,600 3.2 5.1
6 Spain * 1,300 3.3 7.0
7 Netherlands 1,100 7.0 19.5
8 Australia 800 4.3 14.5
9 Romania 700 3.1 3.4
10 Bulgaria 480 5.9 5.9

11 Thailand 440 0.7 1.4
12 Denmark 420 7.8 17.3
13 Honduras * 368 6.1 5.4
14 El Salvador 361 6.2 14.7
15 Dominican Republic 302 3.7 12.3
16 Hungary 300 2.9 6.9
17 Japan 240 0.2 1.0
18 Norway 179 4.0 5.8
19 Mongolia 160 6.1 17.6
20 Azerbaijan 150 1.9 2.1
21 Portugal 128 1.3 2.6
22 Latvia 120 5.1 20.9
23 Lithuania 118 3.3 9.7
24 Slovakia 102 1.9 2.3
25 Czech Republic 80 0.8 1.4
26 Philippines 80 0.1 0.7
27 Albania 70 2.1 7.0 **
28 Georgia 70 1.4 2.7
29 New Zealand 61 1.7 6.4
30 Moldova 50 1.1 4.7
31 Macedonia 37 1.8 2.3
32 Estonia 31 2.2 6.5
33 Canada ^ 31^
34 Kazakhstan 25 0.1 0.4

 

[Neuron]

I hate how John Edwards has made his money, and I am a staunch advocate of tort reform. I worked hard with my friends to get signature at the University of Miami for the November medical malpractice vote. The support for our cause was strong. If we are going to "slay the malpractice demon", we need to first dispel the popular view that doctors are spoiled, rich, and privileged. The trial lawyers have been extremely effective in spreading this untruth.

To those of you talking about the average income of an American or that doctors are overpaid--what the hell are you talking about? Find me a plumber or real estate agent who is willing to drive 20 minutes to their place of business to treat a customer at 4 AM on a Saturday morning. As practicing physicians, both of my parents do this on a regular basis. They are not exceptions, they are the rule. Do you idealistic blowhards know what it's like to get spat on by a drugged out AIDs patient after you have been up for 24 hours? It happened to a resident friend of mine the other day. While my friends in law school and business school are out at happy hour drinking beer, most pre-meds are studying or doing research. They are some of the most distiguished students in their respective universities and institutions. If they don't deserve a good salary, who does? The insurance companies? the HMO CEOs? the drug companies?

Who cares if Keith Box is a bigot? I'm going to let you in on a little secret, there are millions more with his views--they're called the moral majority. While I disagree with most of his personal views, discrediting what he has to say about medical malpractice on the basis of those views is irresponsible and unfair. He is right, the medical malpractice crisis is very real and very frightening, and it affects our very livelihood. OBs and trauma surgeons are running for the hills in Florida, and who knows how healthcare will be in the next 10 years.

On our side of the ring, we have ineffectual organizations like AMA and quasi-socialist AMSA-who opposed tort reform in their quest to establish socialized healthcare (another form of healthacre rationing--for those of you who think this is the answer to our healthcare problems, you are naive and misinformed).

That being said, I am voting for Kerry/Edwards. I am not going to vote on the basis of a single issues, like the majority of Americans in this elections. I am voting for the platform that I feel best represents my views. Keeping Edwards out of office will not prevent a decline in medicine. The problem is much larger in scope and complexity than Edwards has control over. I would love to see Frist in office in 4 years, but in this election, I am voting Kerry/Edwards.

More of us need to get out of the labs and clinics and bust our asses to protect our interests. Lobbying groups are what matter in Washington, and this is a point of issue where the AMA has failed time and time again. Neither party is looking out for our interests- only we can. For you idealists- WAKE UP- the law makers, healthcare companies, insurance companies, trial lawyers, and even some patients are against you.

How can you say that doctors are greedy? How can someone literally devote their lives to saving other lives and be slandered in such a way? It's time to stop this stupid infighting, and enact some real change. Neither Bush nor Kerry will provide it, only we can.

 

[HamOnWholeWheat]

That comes from being a Colonel. BTW, when did the Air Guard start having MP's? We had SP's.

You got me. I'm not actually in the Guard. This is all just mental masturbation. Feel free to dismiss my opinions as unqualified. Strong work flighterdoc.

 

[flighterdoc]

You got me. I'm not actually in the Guard. This is all just mental masturbation. Feel free to dismiss my opinions as unqualified. Strong work flighterdoc.

Right.

 

[Ratch]

flighdoc, i don't think i need to anwser your question, because we wouldn't have entered sudan and then went to iraq. and no, i do not think unilaterlist FP is the way to go. so i don't think your posed question really is a fair one. and i still think that if we were to enter countries for the pure mission of freeing its people, there were other countries aside from iraq that needed it first.

 

[chiron]

A bit off topic and sure to draw fire but is it just me or does flighterdoc seem to get on people's bad side in just about every thread? I guess that's the reason for the 4000+ posts since Dec 2003!

Three tips ya flighterdoc which you will surly not follow b/c you're so much wiser than I due to your age :

1.) Lighten up.
The impression you give off in your posts are that you are looking to cut people's intellegence down and just waiting for the chance to flaunt your stats/experience.

2.) Be more flexible.
Another impression you give off it that you are senile, I agree and disagree with certain things you've posted, but you make it seem like you're always 100% right which of course is just silly as many of your posts are opinions. (With that attitude I think you'll have a pretty hard time when CME rolls around as you will think you know everything already)

3.) Get a life!
For someone who has done so much in your life you sure do spend a lot of time on internet forums starting arguements! I mean after all the action and experiences you've had, don't you find it a bit boring to be lurking on the internet all day?

I wish you be best of luck if/when you get into med school (assuming you're not already in, sorry don't want to look through your 4000+ posts to get that answer) as we will have the same ultimate goal. A few sincere questions though, how old are you? What kind of doc you want to be? And how long do you plan on practicing? I'm not trying to make fun of you, just really curious.

 

[flighterdoc]

A bit off topic and sure to draw fire but is it just me or does flighterdoc seem to get on people's bad side in just about every thread? I guess that's the reason for the 4000+ posts since Dec 2003!

Three tips ya flighterdoc which you will surly not follow b/c you're so much wiser than I due to you age :

1.) Lighten up.
The impression you give off in your posts are that you are looking to cut people's intellegence down and just waiting for the chance to flaunt your stats/experience.

2.) Be more flexible.
Another impression you give off it that you are senile, I agree and disagree with certain things you've posted, but you make it seem like you're always 100% right which of course just silly as many of your posts are opinions. (With that attitude I think you'll have a pretty hard time when CME rolls around as you will think you know everything already)

3.) Get a life!
For someone who has done so much in your life you sure do spend a lot of time on internet forums starting arguements! I mean after all the action and experiences you've had, don't you find it a bit boring to be lurking on the internet all day?

I wish you be best of luck if/when you get into med school (assuming you're not already in, sorry don't want to look through your 4000+ posts to get that answer) as we will have the same ultimate goal. A few sincere questions though, how old are you? What kind of doc you want to be? And how long do you plan on practicing? I'm not trying to make fun of you, just really curious.

Thanks for your advice. Actually, I use SDN as breaks from studying and working - pop in and out for 30 or so minutes every couple of hours.

I'm 48, plan on doing IM or EM, and will practice for 15 or so years after residency.

 

[Tristero]

Why fight like this? It gets nothing done.

 

[chiron]

No prob. Rereading my post I think I sounded a bit harsh, I'm sorry for that. As of now I plan on doing EM too, either that or Gen. Surgery, but year 1 doesn't even start until August so I guess I have plenty of time to figure out what exactly I want.

 

[flighterdoc]

No prob. Rereading my post I think I sounded a bit harsh, I'm sorry for that. As of now I plan on doing EM too, either that or Gen. Surgery, but year 1 doesn't even start until August so I guess I have plenty of time to figure out what exactly I want.

Not a problem with me, either. Another reason I'm on SDN is to get used to being annoyed by people half my age. Thats something I have to look forward to in medical school and residency. So, I work very hard at not getting emotionally involved with these "discussions". Otherwise, I'd have to hunt you down and spank you (J/K)

So, thanks!

And it seems that a lot of people starting med school have an idea of what they want to do. A few of them actually do that when they file their match. There's a lot in medicine, most of which we aren't exposed to until med school, and you may decide that something else is exactly up your alley.

 

[flighterdoc]

flighdoc, i don't think i need to anwser your question, because we wouldn't have entered sudan and then went to iraq. and no, i do not think unilaterlist FP is the way to go. so i don't think your posed question really is a fair one. and i still think that if we were to enter countries for the pure mission of freeing its people, there were other countries aside from iraq that needed it first.

Well, when you said:

there are a number of african countries where the situation (war, government, or lack thereof) was and is alot worse than it was in iraq.we aren't there helping those folks. there's no oil reserves in africa. pretty simple.
so you are correct, the war is not pointless. it is freeing the iraqi people, but there are alot of other places we should've went if that was our goal, as you seem to describe.

I though you were arguing that (as you said) there 'were alot of other places we should've went...".

I was trying to get some idea from you of why it would be acceptable for the US to do something in Sudan (without any assitance from the UN, France, etc, all having oil concerns there) and it wasn't OK to do it in Iraq where we had more support, and at least thought (thanks to the intelligence of all the intelligence services in the world, including Britain, France, Russia) that Saddam was getting ready to cause a lot more trouble for the US. Plus, he was killing his own people.

But, I guess you subscribe to Ralph Waldo Emersons "A foolish consistency is the hobgoblin of little minds, adored by little statesmen and philosophers and divines.". I don't think you were being consistent.

 

[Ratch]

good luck in your pursuits flightdoc

 

[pikachu]

the worst thing about the Kerry-Shark ticket is that the alternative is probably just as sucky for medicine - see today's news on Bush admin cuts to Medicare reimbursements. It's one thing to know that one party doesn't care about your interests, but when BOTH parties couldn't give a rat's ass about doctors...

 

[cavsRule]

I hate how John Edwards has made his money, and I am a staunch advocate of tort reform. I worked hard with my friends to get signature at the University of Miami for the November medical malpractice vote. The support for our cause was strong. If we are going to "slay the malpractice demon", we need to first dispel the popular view that doctors are spoiled, rich, and privileged. The trial lawyers have been extremely effective in spreading this untruth.

To those of you talking about the average income of an American or that doctors are overpaid--what the hell are you talking about? Find me a plumber or real estate agent who is willing to drive 20 minutes to their place of business to treat a customer at 4 AM on a Saturday morning. As practicing physicians, both of my parents do this on a regular basis. They are not exceptions, they are the rule. Do you idealistic blowhards know what it's like to get spat on by a drugged out AIDs patient after you have been up for 24 hours? It happened to a resident friend of mine the other day. While my friends in law school and business school are out at happy hour drinking beer, most pre-meds are studying or doing research. They are some of the most distiguished students in their respective universities and institutions. If they don't deserve a good salary, who does? The insurance companies? the HMO CEOs? the drug companies?

Who cares if Keith Box is a bigot? I'm going to let you in on a little secret, there are millions more with his views--they're called the moral majority. While I disagree with most of his personal views, discrediting what he has to say about medical malpractice on the basis of those views is irresponsible and unfair. He is right, the medical malpractice crisis is very real and very frightening, and it affects our very livelihood. OBs and trauma surgeons are running for the hills in Florida, and who knows how healthcare will be in the next 10 years.

On our side of the ring, we have ineffectual organizations like AMA and quasi-socialist AMSA-who opposed tort reform in their quest to establish socialized healthcare (another form of healthacre rationing--for those of you who think this is the answer to our healthcare problems, you are naive and misinformed).

That being said, I am voting for Kerry/Edwards. I am not going to vote on the basis of a single issues, like the majority of Americans in this elections. I am voting for the platform that I feel best represents my views. Keeping Edwards out of office will not prevent a decline in medicine. The problem is much larger in scope and complexity than Edwards has control over. I would love to see Frist in office in 4 years, but in this election, I am voting Kerry/Edwards.

More of us need to get out of the labs and clinics and bust our asses to protect our interests. Lobbying groups are what matter in Washington, and this is a point of issue where the AMA has failed time and time again. Neither party is looking out for our interests- only we can. For you idealists- WAKE UP- the law makers, healthcare companies, insurance companies, trial lawyers, and even some patients are against you.

How can you say that doctors are greedy? How can someone literally devote their lives to saving other lives and be slandered in such a way? It's time to stop this stupid infighting, and enact some real change. Neither Bush nor Kerry will provide it, only we can.

Great post!!

 

[skb21]

I would like to offer an apology for my actions in this thread. There are a lot of things that I have to learn, and tact is one of them. I should not have voiced my views so disrespectfully to others in this thread. The only things I accomplished was making an ass of myself and embarassing the school that has decided to give me the opportunity to become a doctor.

I will refrain from posting on these topics in the future, because this is the side of medicine that I'm really not interested in. I'm interested in surgery, in particular orthopaedic surgery, and learning as much about the art as I can.

 

[ortho2003]

I would like to offer an apology for my actions in this thread. There are a lot of things that I have to learn, and tact is one of them. I should not have voiced my views so disrespectfully to others in this thread. The only things I accomplished was making an ass of myself and embarassing the school that has decided to give me the opportunity to become a doctor.

I will refrain from posting on these topics in the future, because this is the side of medicine that I'm really not interested in. I'm interested in surgery, in particular orthopaedic surgery, and learning as much about the art as I can.

People from your deans office came down on you eh? Don't sweat it man...you are entitled to your opinion. Screw them and their p.c. crap.

 

[skb21]

Are you an ortho resident?

I got to scrub on an arthroscopic AC joint repair today. The technique used was the Arthrex technique. Very cool procedure. The Arthrex reps were saying that only 6 orthopods were using this technique nationally.

 

[MErc44]

flightdoc: can you then tell me who, that is an actual power (aside from the obvious war nations like trinidad or the poland), agreed wholeheatedly with us to enter iraq? i am just saying that if we are planning on have a unilateralist approach to stopping conflicts, we need to be a bit more discreet in our rationale behind it. its simply my two cents, take it for what its worth.

can you tell me who in the world is an actual superpower? France, Germany? haha. From what I remember Schroeder, the president of germany, or chancellor or whaterver you want to call it, was in serious sh&t in his country and was most likely not going to be reelected. When we went to war with Iraq he "decided" to stand up to America. This took some of the pressure off of him and put him in better standing with his people. Germany has a paltry military, France as well, besides they haven't performed well in the last sixty years. I would say that Russia and China are the only other real superpowers besides us in military terms. Another thing, how about a return to the monroe doctrine of the 19th century, then we'll see how the rest of the world feels about us. No more US of A to come and save the world, who can the oppressed people of the world turn to then, France, Germany, England, Russia? Good luck with that.

 

[Paulista]

This thread seems to be getting longer and longer!

Anybody knows what happened to the guy who started this thread???

He seems awfully quiet..

 

[NubianPrincess]

This thread seems to be getting longer and longer!

Anybody knows what happened to the guy who started this thread???

He seems awfully quiet..

Being banned does that sometimes

 

[Seaglass]

Paulista/Vukken I actually think it's funny that the Vukken you got banned on the 14th, and then the Paulista you shows up on the 17th using the same mannerisms, sentence structure and everything. It must be hard to live with so many personalities!

 

[Old MD]