Doctors don't know any more than anyone else.
Yet, they are some of the highest paid professionals, especially in the developed countries, so what does that really say about the profession?
That applies equally to all other professions or trades, no?
Doctors are some of the highest paid professionals, eh?
Well, I won't argue that we aren't well compensated for our work.
But I'd also like to point out that we generally work much longer hours than some of our colleagues in other "professional" careers (whatever that means).
I sincerely doubt the accountant gets paged at 3:00 AM and spends the next 4 hours working, THEN gets to "start" his or her day.
But look, I'm not gonna bitch too much.
We are paid well.
Not as well as we used to be, in the salad days of the 70's and 80's.
I know primary care docs, the internists and pediatricians of the world, that don't even clear 6 digits.
You can get a 9-5 sales job that clears 6 digits.
Factor in the income lost going to school+ residency+ the cost of school and the opportunity lost for income during this time.....hardly seems worth it from a financial standpoint.
They do it because thay have invested their lives in the job, and have families to support.
They aint starvin', I'm not saying that.....they just aren't rolling in dough like everyone assumes when you hear "doctor".
Anyway....let me get to your point
You asked about smarts=pay, and "what does that say about the profession"
By that logic, Hollywood stars should get paid nowhere near the multimillions they are paid. Professional athletes?
You are smart enough to understand that you get paid based on the demand for your skill set.
These doctors I speak of, the "not so bright ones", might still be excellent PHYSICIANS, they just might have ZERO knowledge outside their little doctor world.
You know, the classic "book smart" type.
They still put in the time and got trained.....therefore they get paid according to the value of their skills.
They know nothing about "life", but may have excellent skills within the realm of their chosen specialty.
I bet you know plenty of people in whatever career you have that you just think to yourself......"how did THAT guy get thru school?"
Well, doctors are no different.
Still human beings, still capable of error.
---And I'd like to point out, the ONLY career expected to be 100% correct 100% of the time.
---Also the only career that can be sued for bad outcome.
Not malpractice, just bad outcome.
Ok, now your other point......about listening.
Sure it applies to everyone!
I don't see where you are going with that.
Just want to argue/question?
Ok, I'm cool with that.
Listening is a skill required by most jobs, and a physician incapable of listening is in trouble. In order to take a good history/physical exam this skill is essential. A doctor without this ability seems useless to me....unless he/she is in radiology or pathology or one of the other fields that requires little to no patient contact.
So where were you going with that?
My point was that it seemed CJF was implying ALL doctors don't listen because we think we "know it all".
Heh.
The day you think you "know it all" as a doc is the day you get humbled.
I just wanted to respond by saying I think my listening skills are at least as good as the average man on the street.
Maybe even better, since I spend a large part of my day listening to people talk about their problems.....so I can help them.