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by bullen 1144 days ago
The reason people are skeptical about doctors (both philosophical and medical) is that they make their own market.

In simpler terms: the sicker you are, the more they earn.

Just like computer consultants earn more the worse they deliver, because if they built the perfect system, they would no longer be needed.

1 comments

This is simply not true.

Healthcare still follows the basic supply/demand curve, and demand is at record levels. It's just as capitalist as much of the rest of the economy. State regulations regarding professional licensure do serve as a limiting factor for supply, but many fields also have similar licensing requirements before being able to practice.

Most doctors do not make more the sicker you are. The majority are salaried though some organizations do provide extra depending on volume seen or RVUs. They also have very little say on the volume as it is mostly decided by managers.

Some examples:

  - patients with falls/trauma

  - millions of obese individuals seeking treatment with GLP-1 receptor agonists for weight loss

  - cancer
Certainly, these individuals were not made sick just so the healthcare industry could make a profit. Also, I don't believe there will ever be a perfect system.