why is medical education set up like it is now?

Question

I keep on hearing about how people go directly into medical school after high school, and im just wondering why we dont do the same? I mean i know technically you dont have to have a degree to get into medical school except for the class requirements and i think at least 90 hours. what is the point of this? its a waste of money, and a waste of time. ideally you should have a degree before applying to medical school and i think this just puts up so many challenges for a lot of people who, if they could, be really good doctors.

im not against being well rounded, but i think having a little culture and being well educated in different fields should be your choice. sometimes you just have to concentrate in what you want to do and go for it, without having to get side tracked and losing your focus. besides i would think somebody that wants to be a doctor would have a natural urge to know a little bit of a lot of stuff, especially if it could benefit his patients in any way other than the medical knowledge. or maybe have some really relevant classes within a medical school that includes philosophy, ethics, and just humanities in general....but dont make it absolutely necessary to waste 4 years before you can get to med school.

Answer 1

I may get slammed for this, but I think that a high school education in many countries is worth more than it is here in the US. For one thing, you go at least one more year. And you generally do not get a pro forma diploma just for going to class. In Germany, you have to pass a rigorous exam to get your Abitur, the document that is necessary for college admission. In other European countries it is referred to as the "Matura", or A-levels in England. Actually it is closer to the equivalent of an associate degree than it is to a high school diploma. I think that fewer than 30% of secondary school students pass this exam.

Although I went to excellent schools and got very good grades in the US, I don't think my secondary education held a candle compared to my father's in Germany. He was much better schooled in the humanities, especially.

Answer 2

"WWD" and "Whistler" have excellent answers. I would add a bit of the history of medical education in the U.S.
Before the American Civil War, the only requirement for med school was the ability to pay the tuition. Medical students were not scholars at all. Medicine was just being recognized as a science and not just a trade then.
These days there are many tough decisions that go into being a doctor - moral and ethical - not just scientific.
Also there has been intense competition for spots in medical school. Even in the 1970's when I was accepted to med school, there were 5000 applications for the 100 slots at my school. Later I was one of the guys deciding who was accepted or not. How does one pick the best candidates? How could one judge between applicants based on high school alone? Lots of people want to be a doctor. In the U.S., the ones who put in the time and effort get there.

Answer 3

In forgein countries they go right after what they consider to be high school. But they go for 5 years and what we cover in college (O.Chem, General Chemistry, Biology, etc.) is taught during these 5 years, and then they also take the more advanced classes. What you are failing to take into consideration is that their entire educational system is set up differently then ours.

In England for example, they basically pick their career path when they enter what we would think of as high school. THey take tests and then go into a curriculum of their choice-that they qualify for. So if they want to go into medicine they study almost all science and math courses. It's not like our high school at all, where we focus on a well-rounded education they narrow it down to what these kids are going to do in their 'real lives.'

So they have more of a science background then we do and they don't really care how well'rounded their students are so long as they know all the medical stuff. Here we want everyone to be "well-rounded." Try getting into med school in the US with no extra-curricular activities and no general education classes like literature. WOn't happen even if you have a 4.0.

Answer 4

I take it you're in the US or Canada.
In terms of history, you'll want to look back at the Flexner report.
For an apology, accelerated programs have been tried and generally found to be less satisfactory. I suspect part of the reason is the importance of a more rounded education, and if not then, when? Medical school and residency are seven or more years of very intense study, so that block of time is out. Later one is getting into practice and doesn't have the time. All of a sudden your in middle age, and this is when you propose doctors learn to be human? If anything, I think it would be better to have more requirements in the humanities.