# Are we seeing a gradual encroachment on the professions? **URL:** \ **Category:** Great Debates\ **Created:** [July 9, 2017, 6:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-we-seeing-a-gradual-encroachment-on-the-professions/790863 "2017-07-09T18:55:59Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 6\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![Wendell\_Wagner](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/8491ac/32.png) [@Wendell\_Wagner](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Wendell_Wagner)\ **Post date:** [July 14, 2017, 6:38am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-we-seeing-a-gradual-encroachment-on-the-professions/790863/21 "2017-07-14T06:38:53Z")
When I click on that link, I get an advertisement. ---
**Author:** ![Some\_Call\_Me.Tim](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/439d5e/32.png) [@Some\_Call\_Me.Tim](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Some_Call_Me.Tim)\ **Post date:** [July 14, 2017, 6:52am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-we-seeing-a-gradual-encroachment-on-the-professions/790863/22 "2017-07-14T06:52:48Z")
Huh. I don’t, but I don’t default to allowing websites to use javascript. ---
**Author:** ![Wendell\_Wagner](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/8491ac/32.png) [@Wendell\_Wagner](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Wendell_Wagner)\ **Post date:** [July 14, 2017, 7:28am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-we-seeing-a-gradual-encroachment-on-the-professions/790863/23 "2017-07-14T07:28:25Z")
In any case, the number of physicians in the U.S. has increased steadily over the past seventy years. It’s gone from 201,277 to 1,045,910 from 1949 to 2013. The population of the U.S. was 149.19 million in 1949. The population was 316.20 million in 2013. So in 1949 there were 741 people for each doctor, while in 2013 there were 302 people per doctor. So the number of doctors has been rising faster than the number of people: > **[Total doctors of medicine U.S. 1949-2015 | Statista](https://www.statista.com/statistics/186260/total-doctors-of-medicine-in-the-us-since-1949/)** > > This statistic shows the total number of doctors of medicine in the United States from 1949 to 2015. > **[US Population by Year](https://www.multpl.com/united-states-population/table/by-year)** > > US Population table by year, historic, and current data. Current US Population is 333.33 million. ---
**Author:** ![Some\_Call\_Me.Tim](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/439d5e/32.png) [@Some\_Call\_Me.Tim](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Some_Call_Me.Tim)\ **Post date:** [July 14, 2017, 7:56am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-we-seeing-a-gradual-encroachment-on-the-professions/790863/24 "2017-07-14T07:56:15Z")
Do you have any support for your claim that “There has been no attempt to decrease the number of physicians in the U.S.”? Statistics on the number of physicians in the U.S. do not address this claim or yours one way or the other. (Also, your site is asking me for $49 to view the content you refer to.) ---
**Author:** ![Wendell\_Wagner](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/8491ac/32.png) [@Wendell\_Wagner](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Wendell_Wagner)\ **Post date:** [July 14, 2017, 12:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-we-seeing-a-gradual-encroachment-on-the-professions/790863/25 "2017-07-14T12:32:50Z")
Which site are you talking about? Show me some evidence that there has been an attempt to decrease the number of physicians in the U.S. ---
**Author:** ![Really\_Not\_All\_That\_Bright](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/e8c25b/32.png) [@Really\_Not\_All\_That\_Bright](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Really_Not_All_That_Bright)\ **Post date:** [July 14, 2017, 2:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-we-seeing-a-gradual-encroachment-on-the-professions/790863/26 "2017-07-14T14:15:00Z")
> [@Wendell\_Wagner](#): > > Show me some evidence that there has been an attempt to decrease the number of physicians in the U.S. The burden of proof is on the proponent of a claim. But I’ve [done](https://www.google.com/url?sa=t&rct=j&q=&esrc=s&source=web&cd=2&cad=rja&uact=8&ved=0ahUKEwjpsOGN-ojVAhUJPj4KHfRdDGYQFgguMAE&url=https%3A%2F%2Feconomix.blogs.nytimes.com%2F2012%2F08%2F31%2Ffrom-physician-glut-to-physician-shortage%2F&usg=AFQjCNFh3-1AcPU1xP43NF95BMa4OkhcmA) your [homework](http://usatoday30.usatoday.com/educate/college/healthscience/articles/20050306.htm) for [you](https://www.forbes.com/2009/08/25/american-medical-association-opinions-columnists-shikha-dalmia.html). [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-we-seeing-a-gradual-encroachment-on-the-professions/790863.md?page=1)