The Hidden Cost of Being a Doctor in America

People love to talk about doctors. They talk about them as if they exist above the system. They say that they are high earners and do not have to deal with the same chaos that patients face. But if you know a doctor, or have worked with a doctor, you would know that they carry a weight most patients never see. 

The system is not on their side. Patients aren’t always on their side. They get vilified for things completely out of their control. This is the part of the story people rarely tell.

The System Works Against Them 

Doctors are treating patients, getting blamed for bills they did not create, getting second-guessed by insurance companies, and being buried in paperwork by hospitals. They are navigating an absolute minefield. All the while, with the threat of retaliation or litigation hanging over their heads.

They’re expected to save lives while fighting a system designed to slow them down while spreading up their outcomes. A national survey from Medscape shows that 49% of physicians report feeling burned out. The top causes listed were administrative burdens and interference from insurance companies. 

Another study found that physician burnout is associated with a 200% increased risk of medical errors. None of this has to do with a lack of care on the doctor's part. Quite the opposite. 

Patients Pay the Price Too 

Doctors see the fallout of the healthcare crisis every single day. They see the patients who delay treatment because they can’t afford the visit. They see the ones who ration medication because the refill costs more than their rent. They have a front-seat to everything wrong and unjust in healthcare. And still they push on. 

The truth is simple. Doctors aren’t the problem. The system is. 

Why I Fight for Doctors And Patients 

I fight for doctors, yes. But I also fight for the patients behind them. For every single person in America who deserves safe and affordable care. Timely care too. When doctors are supported, patients are protected.