The Bottom Line

Over the past 7 years, I have become more aware of how the medical industry is just like every other major corporation out there, in it for the money. I am not talking about insurance companies, because we are all aware of how their first priority is their bottom line. I am talking about doctors making decisions for their patients not in the best interest of the patients, but in the financial best interest of the doctor. This is appalling to me!

When I decided to go into nursing, I did so to help people. To heal and educate, to give some compassion to those that are in need of help, to lessen the effects of disease. Helping people has always been my calling. It has never been about the money. I would never and could never make a decision for my patient based on how it will affect my pay or my financial outcome. I make a decision for the best of the patient. When I was new to nursing, I believed the doctor did as well. I admit I used to have an unusually optimistic view of people and the world around me. Unfortunately, over the last few years I have seen things that have forced me to change my views, and all I can say is that humanity has a price, and the cost is rising.

At one job I was asked to give one IV anti-emetic over another because the price was lower and/or the reimbursement was higher on one versus the other. I also worked for a doctor that would tell the patient a treatment wasn’t a good option because the patient’s insurance wouldn’t pay for it. I would also be asked what insurance the patient had prior to the doctor seeing the patient.

I wish I had known this before going into medicine. If I had, I may have made a different choice. Seeing this has really made me lose faith in humanity. I see it everyday in stores and on the road, people indifferent or rude towards one another. However, in a setting where I expect compassion and respect, I am seeing something quite unexpected. It is disheartening and frustrating. It makes me lose respect for the people I have looked up to my entire life. I understand not all doctors are like this, but unfortunately, there are enough that I need to speak up.

Doctors took an oath to help those in need. They have people looking to them for help in getting better and giving them all the information they need to make informed medical decisions. They have a moral obligation to their patients. Doctors have to put their patients health above their cash filled pockets. Unfortunately, many patients cannot see this and think the doctor is giving them all the information, when, in reality, that isn’t always true.

Patients need to advocate for themselves and, as nurses, we need to educate and advocate for our patients as well. These doctors need to ask themselves why they got into medicine. Our doctors should be in this field for the love of people and medicine, not for the paycheck they see each time a patient walks in the door.