The American Medical Profession:
an Ego-tainted Gathering
Americans in the supremacy of their egos believe they have the world’s greatest medical community available to service them. If that is so, why is American life expectancy 41st in the world? Who are those nations that have the greater life expectancy and what is the structure of their medical community? Check on line and find out. You will be surprised at what you find and even more surprised how the USA has dropped in the ratings over the past several years.
First of all, American medicine is the only capitalist medical profession among the most advanced nations. Medicine is more of a business than a profession and medical doctors aren’t sanctified professionals...to say the least. In fact, their egos often exceed their genuine knowledge and competency. Specialization, rather than benefiting American patients, places them at considerable risk and often without clear-cut legal remedy.
As a psychological professional, who is infinitely aware of his limitations and those of all humans, I am mortified that so many Americans place so much trust in a profession that too often sees itself as superior…that is, absent meaningful error. Do not...I repeat "DO NOT"...delude yourself.
Europe has socialized medicine. Socialization of a profession does not mean the profession lacks strict standards. In fact, it means just the opposite. Socialized medicine, such as in the United Kingdom, means there are rigidly enforced standards which if violated are the cause of penalization. In addition the UK has recently provided for incentive payment to physicians who well exceed necessary standards of practice, treatment and ethics.
American physicians on the other hand are rewarded like capitalist entrepreneurs and are penalized only in extreme professional lapses by those who have the means to sue them. How then can we ensure ourselves competent medical treatment and services? American medical doctors are…in all terseness…not demigods and they are not free of ignorance or ego. As of this moment the USA is tied for 41st place in life expectancy in the world with Puerto Rico. Tell me the USA is the greatest country in the world and I'll tell you are delusional. Capitalism can and often does…excuse me…“suck”. Our younger generations while lacking much, do have a manner of speaking that cuts to the heart of the matter.
I am not a perfect man nor a perfect professional. I am worth in compensation only that which I have earned consistent with what I do well and ably. I am a poly-professional and I struggle every moment with earning and deserving my clients’ respect and regard. I always have and always shall. And if I fail, I am the first to acknowledge it and to compensate for my failure. My 99th percentile intellect affords me nothing unless I have truly applied it well and meaningfully. Ego all too often becomes an obstacle to meaningful, professional actualization.
Today I struggle with the medical community’s failure to ably deal with friends’ and family members’ medical problems, to standup as men and women of honor and acknowledge their shortcomings and decline compensation for incompetence. I say this as a Psychological Forensics specialist who despite a 99th percentile IQ and multiple professional lives cannot deny my many limitations.
I wish I could change much about the world we live in…but the world will cease to be before human arrogance and ignorance ceases to be. Oh what fools we mortals be! One must wonder why God allows such madness to continue.
Oy vey!
Doctor Ron Ribble, another imperfect but sassy mortal
[The title, Doctor, comes from the German word, Doktor, meaning anyone holding a Doctor's degree. It does not mean Physician...just in case you are a commonly ignorant American]
