That's an entirely artificial problem created by the AMA (or BMA in the UK) to keep wages high. What if everyone who had the academic ability could train, rather than having to compete for a restricted number of slots? It's how every other discipline does it (they defer competing for places until the job market).
http://www.motherjones.com/kevin-drum/2013/11/its-doctors-wh...
That is a thing called a direct entry medical program. It gets you the the end of medical school in 6 years instead of 8 by dispensing with the undergraduate degree. The extra two years cover the sciences and how to learn at medical school speeds.
It shaves two years off, but at the cost of pinning the student into a rigid track. The number of high school seniors who think they want to be doctors and change their mind during an undergraduate is pretty high.
that's the first thing that should happen. Especially the free market people should want it.
But if it's being done for less elsewhere, then I don't think it's wrong to let that influence your expectations.
https://www.legislation.gov.uk/uksi/2001/3968/regulation/7/m...
> Patients' guide
> 7.—(1) The registered person shall produce a written guide to the establishment or agency (in these Regulations referred to as “the patients' guide”) which shall consist of—
> (a)a summary of the statement of purpose;
> (b)the terms and conditions in respect of services to be provided for patients, including as to the amount and method of payment of charges for all aspects of their treatment;
Yes, but also there is the fact that there is an artificial cap placed on total US residency class size, meaning there is a pretty effective bottleneck on actually becoming a medical doctor.
Or the woman dies.
Seriously though, listen to the advice of giving birth in a hospital setting. If they have a midwife center then take advantage of it, but I would highly caution against the trend of birth clinics and home birth unless you live very close to an emergency room. Things can wrong in an instant.
Source: Experience. First born was in NICU for 12 days and mother had bad complications. We had to be rushed in an ambulance from a natural birth center when things went south.
https://www.google.nl/amp/s/www.volkskrant.nl/wetenschap/typ...
Can't find english source easily - tl dr 13% of births are at home vs 23% 10 years ago.
Medicare would oppose this tooth and nail. The lack of pricing transparency enables them to keep reimbursing less than cost, because they can expect private insurers to be forced to pay the difference.
Here's what I've learned:
* Pricing is not transparent. When the hospital tells you how much the procedure will cost, they are not telling you about the anesthesiologists portion, or the room fee, ect. There will be surprise bills. Why isn't it law that Hospitals provide transparent pricing for non-emergency procedures?
* Doctors are in short supply. This is because becoming a doctor is impossibly hard. Why can't undergraduates enter straight into a medical school program? Doctor's are in the 30's when they complete training and are already halfway toward the retirement age
* If things go badly during the delivery, you will be glad you are at a well equipped Hospital. A $5000 bill is a small price to pay to ensure the baby does not arrive brain damaged.