Medicine - a lower status career?

[ridinghighinapril]

Just read the "states schools eclipse Eton in A-level rankings" thread in the secondary section. A couple of posters mentioned that medicine was viewed as second-rate career (paraphrasing, as I can't remember the exact terms used) by those in private schools.
I was a bit but curious whether there has been a shift in perception. Interested to hear views!

Depends on how you rate a career. Medicine is becoming another public sector job with no rewarding aspects to it.

If you are motivated by money then you are likely to want to become a banker if you are motivated by status then a lawyer.

It's a career like any other. No more or less important. Every doctor is equal in human terms to every human they treat. I think doctors have lost a great deal of respect because they have forgotten this. I have lost count of the number of times a doctor has addressed me as his or her subordinate or has been dismissive or rude or provided incomplete or the wrong information.

It's funny how they are far less rude but often equally hurried when I pay them directly.

The consultant DR who lives near me has two Dr children. Obviously they didn't get put off. Many doctors are the children of doctors. Ditto with vets. They get a lot of help when preparing for Med school applications!

I'm the child of a doctor married to another doctor's kid. Between us we have 6 siblings, and not one of us have done medicine - we all ran a mile. I have two uncles who are also doctors... 7 kids between them... only one did medicine.

Oh the Roses - totally agree with you. The NHS hasn't been fit for purpose for decades. Our outcomes are shameful. Time for a complete rethink.

In the U.K.? Yes. I'm Australian (poised to start medical school) when I made the decision to move to Britain. When I saw the conditions (and the pay!) in the NHS I switched to Law.