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<p>In medicine, you get to help many people free of charge, some people (Medicare and Medicaid patients) at mandatory substantially discounted rates and some people at essentially non-negotiable discounted rates (HMO’s, private insurance).</p>
<p>The primary economic difference between the practice of law and medicine is that very few doctors set their own fees. Furthermore, hospital call duties [correctly] require taking care of all patients regardless of ability to pay or insurance status.</p>
<p>Physician compensation on a patient by patient basis is largely determined by the patient’s insurance status rather than the patient’s medical condition and the interventions required.</p>