Total commitment

The Japanese Re-investment Fund is a very interesting idea. It forces doctors to put all of their profits into investments to further medical technologies. As the tital of my blog suggests this imposition by the the Japanese government represents a total commitment on the part of the Medical Practicioner to function as a healer both physically and financially. The Japanese physician spends all day healing and then any extra money goes to that same end. It would be interesting to find out whether the Japanese physicians support or impose this regulation but I suspect they would embrace it as long as the money is being used for a good purpose. I am very moved by this idea that the physician makes just enough to get by and that any excess goes toward the patient.

This mentality would never work in the United States, too many doctors are in it because it provides a good paycheck and can support someone in a lifestyle which they are accustomed. Were would Beverly Hills be without the plastic surgeons pulling in 8 figure paychecks? Arguably we would end up with no skilled physicians. This arguement is valid because the profit motive is a good way of advancing the medical field. Still there is something to be said for contributing all of your profits toward medical advancement and while this could never be legislation in the U.S, I wouldnt mind that becoming a practice endorsed by the AMA