Physician's Offspring by Ted Bacharach MD (retired)

Becoming a Physician

The medical profession was once a very desirable goal even for the offspring of physicians. I can testify to this because my father was a physician and the only conversation or topic discussed at home involved medical care. The physician back in those days was also a respected member of the community (it really was a long time ago.) Quite a few offsprings of physicians were interested in following in their father’s footsteps. Back in my father’s day the physician’s job was a 24 hour a day application and it would have been understandable why sons and daughters would opt for something less time consuming. The incomes of physicians has been a variable one. in the 20/s,30’s and early 40’s doctors did not earn very much, during the fifties, sixties and seventies incomes became quite good but in the nineties the drop had become noticeable especially for the family practice physicians and internists. Now that we have entered another decade, a gradual reduction has continued and the outlook for the future is also less attractive. The hours of work have been reduced but the method and practice of medicine has become increasingly restricted. Starting out in medicine has become quite simple, all that is required is a job and so far there are more jobs than physicians to fill them.

Is the desire of physician’s offsprings to follow in their father’s footsteps as great as it once was or have offspring been influenced in other directions? Back in the early days doctors often complained of the hours involved. Physician’s income was good and the doctor was a respected member of the community. Today and increasingly over the past decade complaints about how medicine must be practiced, how getting paid less and having to comply with everything the employer wants their physicians to do. Independent practice is a dead concept except for very few and involves insurmountable obstacles in many locations. While dealing with patients was once a problem, now dealing with insurance companies, government and employers has become more problematic.

Should physician’s offspring go into medicine? I think many are not attracted as much as in the past. The male offspring tend to be interested in a job in which he can be more independent. Female offspring are a little more attracted to medicine.

Evaluate your own children and see what you have inspired them to do.