What Most People Don’t Know About Being A Doctor

There are few careers as prestigious and in demand as being a doctor. However, while it can certainly be fulfilling, lucrative, and can come with a wide range of perks, it’s not a career that anyone who wants can jump into. Most people know about the significant education and time investment that you have to put in to become a doctor, but do they know about the challenges that can come after that, even when you’re well into your career?

It involves a lot of paperwork

Yes, being a practicing physician means managing patient care, being on the front lines, making decisions, and seeing the results of that care. However, there is a lot of time that is spent on paperwork, as well. You have to keep meticulous notes as a doctor on treatments provided, as well as carry out administrative duties that are all there to ensure that you are covered while you get back to providing the care that might be the real reason you do the job.

You work to the demands of the job

While doctors do have decision-making power and are often looked to as the voice of authority in a medical situation, the truth is that the job comes with a lot of red tape that, while usually there for the good of the patients, can feel stifling. Complex healthcare systems, regulations, and the specific policies of the organizations that you work in can often tie your hands when it comes to making decisions. This, on top of the emotional demands of dealing with patients’ needs, can be downright exhausting.

There is reputational and legal risk

Working as a doctor, your reputation is on the line every single day. This can affect not just how patients trust you but how your peers perceive you, as well. As such, care has to be taken to be safe, to keep up with regulations, and to follow best practices. Even when you do, however, attacks on your reputation, such as malpractice suits, can come at some point. That’s when you need to ensure that you have the right protection, like medical malpractice insurance, in place. Otherwise, you could be susceptible to significant financial loss, which can impact your career after.

It comes with real health risks

Most days working as a doctor are going to be relatively low-key in terms of danger to your person. However, occasionally, it will involve working with people who pose a real risk, whether due to illness or mental condition. What’s more, doctors and everyone else in the medical community are at the forefront during medical crises and outbreaks, which was clearly indicated during the COVID-19 pandemic. As such, you have to be ready to manage but tolerate some degree of risk that most people simply never face.

There are a thousand reasons to become a doctor, and if that’s what you really want, then you should work hard to make it a reality. However, you should also be aware of the challenges and risks that are going to face you and what you can do to navigate around them.