# Doctors who "wash out". **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [January 31, 2003, 1:02am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/doctors-who-wash-out/151766 "2003-01-31T01:02:21Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![mangeorge](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/d78d45/32.png) [@mangeorge](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/mangeorge)\ **Post date:** [January 31, 2003, 1:02am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/doctors-who-wash-out/151766/1 "2003-01-31T01:02:21Z")
To begin with, I know nothing about doctor pecking order. What I wonder, though, is if people who go to medical school “wash out” of specialty training then become something less. Not “less”, but not a specialty. I’m having a hard time putting my question into words. Does anyone enter into medical training with the desire to be a heart surgeon (for example) only to discover they just don’t have what it takes, so they settle for becoming a proctologist (for example). I’ve read that being a anesthesiologist is actually more difficult than becomong a surgeon. Show’s you what I know. 😛 I just had one young eye doctor hand me off to a more experienced eye doctor because my problem exceeded her skills. She didn’t even hesitate. I admire that. Peace, mangeorge ---
**Author:** ![DoctorJ](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/doctorj/32/2904_2.png) [@DoctorJ](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DoctorJ)\ **Post date:** [January 31, 2003, 1:36am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/doctors-who-wash-out/151766/2 "2003-01-31T01:36:47Z")
Yes, a lot of people start med school wanting to do a particular specialty–or realize at some point during med school that they want to do it–and then realize that they don’t have the stuff to get into a competitive field. Most of the time, they’ll realize this before they even apply. What happens more often is that those students decide they don’t want to go through such a tough residency, or live the life that such doctors often lead, and decide against it for that reason. Competitive fields right now include radiology, ophthalmology, dermatology, and just about any specialty surgery (urology, ENT, plastics). Anesthesiology has been easy for the last few years, but it’s getting a little tougher. General surgery is not very tough at all now if you’re not picky about where you go, as they haven’t been able to fill all their spots for the last few years. Hope that answers what you were trying to ask. Dr. J ---
**Author:** ![Amp](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/6a8cbe/32.png) [@Amp](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Amp)\ **Post date:** [January 31, 2003, 1:41am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/doctors-who-wash-out/151766/3 "2003-01-31T01:41:43Z")
What do you call a med student who doesn’t make it through med school? A dentist. ---
**Author:** ![drachillix](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/48db29/32.png) [@drachillix](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/drachillix)\ **Post date:** [January 31, 2003, 3:25am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/doctors-who-wash-out/151766/4 "2003-01-31T03:25:27Z")
What do you call a med student who doesn’t make it through med school? I always heard it was called a Phys Ed teacher… ---
**Author:** ![mangeorge](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/d78d45/32.png) [@mangeorge](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/mangeorge)\ **Post date:** [January 31, 2003, 7:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/doctors-who-wash-out/151766/5 "2003-01-31T19:13:34Z")
Thanks, **DoctorJ**. I had to go to a proctologist last week, and I got to wondering. 😃 Sorry. I really did. Seriously, why would anyone choose that specialty? I can see that location would be a factor. I’m not at all squeamish about any part of my body, and the visit wasn’t awkward. And my problem was taken care of. I’m happy. Butt (there I go again ;)) I just don’t understand why a student would aim for that particular goal. ---
**Author:** ![Fiver](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/e274bd/32.png) [@Fiver](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Fiver)\ **Post date:** [January 31, 2003, 7:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/doctors-who-wash-out/151766/6 "2003-01-31T19:30:38Z")
My dad was telling me the other day that he didn’t understand why someone would become a brain surgeon, since another specialty, like dermatology (his example) would pay just as well, or at least would still pay very well, and your patients never die on you so there’s less anguish and less chance of getting sued. I reminded him dermatologists were in the vanguard of AIDS research due to KS. And about melanoma. But of course, doctors choose the specialty they find most interesting. I’m sure proctologists see interesting things in their field that wouldn’t even occur to us laymen. Tangentially to the OP, what happens to a doctor who doesn’t do a residency after med school? I have a friend who became an Air Force doctor instead of finding a residency. What becomes of the ones who stay civilian? Is there a place for them using their MD? ---
**Author:** ![asterion](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/4da419/32.png) [@asterion](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/asterion)\ **Post date:** [January 31, 2003, 7:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/doctors-who-wash-out/151766/7 "2003-01-31T19:50:56Z")
Slight hijack: There is apparently an acronym SFTO. Apparently it means “suitable for the Orient” and dates back to the British Empire. It was given to doctors who weren’t skilled enough to practice for British citizens, but were competent enough to work on those savage Hindus (or whatever). Apparently it’s still used to some degree. Was this ever true or is true now? ---
**Author:** ![Qadgop\_the\_Mercotan](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/qadgop_the_mercotan/32/83_2.png) [@Qadgop\_the\_Mercotan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Qadgop_the_Mercotan)\ **Post date:** [January 31, 2003, 7:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/doctors-who-wash-out/151766/8 "2003-01-31T19:53:38Z")
**Fiver** , some sort of post-residency training is mandatory after graduating medical school. One cannot get a license to practice in this country without at _least_ an internship. The military does grab up some docs after their internship year and put them to work, if they’ve got a military obligation. But they need at least that. In peacetime, anyway. I’m actually working with a doc now who graduated med school during WWII (most students were rushed thru in 3 years due to the war) and went directly to the ETO to start practice repairing the soldiers. ---
**Author:** ![Qadgop\_the\_Mercotan](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/qadgop_the_mercotan/32/83_2.png) [@Qadgop\_the\_Mercotan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Qadgop_the_Mercotan)\ **Post date:** [January 31, 2003, 7:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/doctors-who-wash-out/151766/9 "2003-01-31T19:54:57Z")
I should also differentiate from “Military Residencies” where a med student continues training, but in a military setting, after graduation. ---
**Author:** ![Ivar](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/51bf81/32.png) [@Ivar](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ivar)\ **Post date:** [January 31, 2003, 8:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/doctors-who-wash-out/151766/10 "2003-01-31T20:22:36Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by mangeorge \* > \*\*Thanks, **DoctorJ**. I had to go to a proctologist last week, and I got to wondering. 😃 Sorry. I really did. > Seriously, why would anyone choose that specialty? I can see that location would be a factor. I’m not at all squeamish about any part of my body, and the visit wasn’t awkward. And my problem was taken care of. I’m happy. > Butt (there I go again ;)) I just don’t understand why a student would aim for that particular goal. \*\* Recently spoke to a medical resident who said she will be specializingin proctology. Why? Regular schedule, very few emergencies, and thus the ability to earn well while maintaining a “normal” life. ---
**Author:** ![mangeorge](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/d78d45/32.png) [@mangeorge](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/mangeorge)\ **Post date:** [January 31, 2003, 8:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/doctors-who-wash-out/151766/11 "2003-01-31T20:29:41Z")
Well, **Ivar** , there you go! Sometimes the answer is so simple. I’m real glad that some do, let me tell you. ---
**Author:** ![da\_pope](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/7ba0ec/32.png) [@da\_pope](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/da_pope)\ **Post date:** [January 31, 2003, 8:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/doctors-who-wash-out/151766/12 "2003-01-31T20:39:29Z")
Then again, what do you call a medical student that graduates last in his class? Doctor ---
**Author:** ![Derleth](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/b9e5f3/32.png) [@Derleth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Derleth)\ **Post date:** [January 31, 2003, 8:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/doctors-who-wash-out/151766/13 "2003-01-31T20:53:29Z")
**Ivar** : Besides, everyone deals with assholes anyway. Why not get paid for doing it? ---
**Author:** ![Fiver](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/e274bd/32.png) [@Fiver](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Fiver)\ **Post date:** [January 31, 2003, 10:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/doctors-who-wash-out/151766/14 "2003-01-31T22:09:25Z")
**Ivar** : > [@](#): > > Recently spoke to a medical resident who said she will be specializingin proctology. Why? Regular schedule, Yes, I’m sure it’s quite important for a proctologist to stay regular. ---
**Author:** ![MsRobyn](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/90ced4/32.png) [@MsRobyn](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MsRobyn)\ **Post date:** [January 31, 2003, 10:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/doctors-who-wash-out/151766/15 "2003-01-31T22:19:58Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Ivar \* > \*\*Recently spoke to a medical resident who said she will be specializingin proctology. Why? Regular schedule, very few emergencies, and thus the ability to earn well while maintaining a “normal” life. \*\* As long as she doesn’t have cold hands and poor depth perception, she’ll do fine. 😉 Robin ---
**Author:** ![Boyo\_Jim](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/87869e/32.png) [@Boyo\_Jim](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Boyo_Jim)\ **Post date:** [January 31, 2003, 11:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/doctors-who-wash-out/151766/16 "2003-01-31T23:58:43Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by MsRobyn \* > \*\*As long as she doesn’t have cold hands and poor depth perception, she’ll do fine. 😉 > > Robin \*\* And if she DOES, she’ll fill a niche market! 😃 ---
**Author:** ![mangeorge](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/d78d45/32.png) [@mangeorge](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/mangeorge)\ **Post date:** [February 1, 2003, 12:33am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/doctors-who-wash-out/151766/17 "2003-02-01T00:33:57Z")
All right now, knock it off. I have to go back in a couple weeks. And if she, my doctor, should just happen to read this and make the connection to me, I’ll be the one to pay for your folly. ---
**Author:** ![Pablito](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/ed655f/32.png) [@Pablito](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Pablito)\ **Post date:** [February 1, 2003, 12:45am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/doctors-who-wash-out/151766/18 "2003-02-01T00:45:48Z")
Here’s an old, elitist, outdated, doctor specialty joke (sorry if it offends anyone): Actually, they sort out all the medical specialties during the last few weeks of school. The top 80% of the class gravitate toward fields of their choosing, then the medical board examiners pith the bottom 20% and those who can benchpress more than 200 lbs become orthopedists, while those who can’t become obstetricians. ---
**Author:** ![Pablito](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/ed655f/32.png) [@Pablito](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Pablito)\ **Post date:** [February 1, 2003, 12:48am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/doctors-who-wash-out/151766/19 "2003-02-01T00:48:13Z")
(I probably should have added that that joke was current back when bones and birthing were pretty straightforward. Things have changed a lot since then.) ---
**Author:** ![DoctorJ](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/doctorj/32/2904_2.png) [@DoctorJ](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DoctorJ)\ **Post date:** [February 1, 2003, 8:21am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/doctors-who-wash-out/151766/20 "2003-02-01T08:21:40Z")
You know the best way to hide a dollar from an orthopedist? Put it in a book. (And just so I’m being self-deprecating, as well: You know the best way to hide a dollar from an internist? Put it under a bandage.) As for the appeal of proctology, it is a specialty out of general surgery, with really good hours, few emergencies, and the opportunity to do a whole bunch of relatively quick procedures, primarily colonoscopies. (Gastroenterologists also do colonoscopies–they are specialists out of internal medicine.) If you want a specialty where they drive a dump truck full of money up to your house every couple of weeks, find one where you can do a lot of procedures. Dr. J [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/doctors-who-wash-out/151766.md?page=2)