<p>I can’t decide if I have real reasons that I want to be a doctor, or if I’m just manifesting reasons to support the idea of becoming a doctor. </p>
<p>I’m wondering if these views contradict themselves…I consider myself more or less a libertarian. I think welfare should be banished, we should get rid of the IRS and cut spending (especially on social services) drastically. I’ve been accused of “not caring about the unfortunate” for my views. Does that contradict having a “calling” to help people, which seems almost required to endure the process of MD training in the US?</p>
<p>You’ll have to be careful; it is a little-known fact that after 4th year, you have to take the PPV test (Physician Political View test), and if you are not in accordance with what they want, you will not be awarded an MD/DO.</p>
<p>That’s not what I meant. I meant that my beliefs on social services are similar to those of a libertarian; those who can’t/won’t work don’t deserve what those who do work get. It seems like all the prospective doctors on these forums are all “I just want to help people!”. I’m not sure what they mean by that. I’m not sure if I really want to help people or if I’m just saying to to rationalize wanting to be a doctor, because my views on helping people via social services probably contradict “helping people”.</p>
<p>Libertarianism doesn’t oppose helping people. It just opposes a government forcing people to help each other – i.e. government taxes being used to finance welfare, with jail if we refuse. It doesn’t oppose charitable giving.</p>
<p>So if you’re a strict libertarian, then we have a potential problem, but not by any means an inevitable one. Your medical training will certainly involve caring for many indigent people who will never reimburse you, the hospital, or the government for the expenses incurred by the cost of their care. You will probably be politically opposed to providing them care – can you do a professional, compassionate job anyway? It is harder than you might think but by no means impossible.</p>
<p>If you’re even more extreme than a libertarian – that is, if you oppose ALL helping of others in any circumstances, even of our own volition – then yes, I think we have a problem.</p>
<p>Go to Ron Paul’s website. <a href=“ronpaul.com”>ronpaul.com; He is a libertarian physician. He strikes me as one of the most principled Republicans. He actually has a political philosphy based on the principles of our founding fathers which limits the role of government in private lives and in communities. He opposed the Iraqi invasion and gave probably the most prescient and impassioned speech against going to war which is admired even by Democrats. He believes in individual responsiblity (not necessarily selfishness). With that individual responsibility comes a desire to give back to our community. If more of us who are privileged, can do so, government intervention programs do not have do to the heavy lifting. I disagree with Dr. Paul on a number of substantive issues; however, I admire his consistency and adherence to principle. He plays the role of gadfly, conscience, and citizen activist. I am glad he is in Congress although I do not support him for President.</p>
<p>KKei: Yes, you can be a libertarian and a humanitarian and a doctor.</p>
<p>Libertarianism does not conflict with becoming a physician. As others have noted, just because you don’t agree with paying taxes to the government to do “charitable work” (which in my opinion is highly inefficient and breeds many problems… I too am a libertarian), doesn’t mean that you’re against helping others through your own capabilities. In my opinion, this is how real good is done, the government isn’t so hot at providing for the less fortunate in many cases. Don’t let liberals make you believe that you are heartless if you don’t favor high taxes and the transfer of wealth through the government, I have a feeling that this mindset will prove to be undoing in the end.</p>
<p>Don’t forget, though – that paying taxes for the government to do charitable work will directly involve almost all physicians.</p>
<p>A libertarian physician must either:
1.) Refuse to ever work with any patients on Medicare or Medicaid, participate in a DSH hospital, etc.
–or–
2.) Be philosophically opposed to such subsidies but willing to accept them as part of your practice.</p>