... or I also call them people who studied medicine for the wrong reasons and have a piece of paper with MD written on it.

Hi. I am posting on here cos I am just really curious to find out some info. from older more experienced medical students and doctors.


Basically my concern is that some students may know nothing. For example...

Basics of physiology:
e.g. Simple waves on an ECG = did'nt learn / don't know

Simple anatomy:
e.g. Nerves of upper arm = Nope

Histology = know nothing but its deemed unimportant

Biochemistry = know nothing
Embryology = big no no

God knows what will happen when we start Patho. and Pharmacology with Microbiology.

There excuse for it is that they don't need to know all this stuff. Its only when you specialise do you start learning. And the problem with my school is that its so weak.

My concern and curiousity even, is what will happen to these people when they enter hospital as junior doctors to work?

Its obvious that countries like Canada, USA, etc they will have no chance unless they actually start studying, or spend many years doing the IMG exams, in which case they will have to know quite a lot which is ok.

But not all countries have such a strict system. Lets just say if some recent graduate has an interview for a residency or gets a short 6 month contract in a Western EU Hospital, what will happen?

Can someone at a 1 hour interview do the impossible and convince senior MD's their competent? Can one of these idiots pull off a short term contract as just support staff to out of hours cover?

Sorry to ask this, but as a junior in my studies I have no idea what impact knowing no anatomy, histology, biochemistry etc. will have on a junior doctor.

My question does'nt really apply to the US because you have the USMLE which will stop any of these people ever getting near a hospital on US soil.

That is why the USMLE exists, to weed out those who would not have competent knowledge to practice medicine in the US. Some countries have exams that are as intense, the PLAB in Britain is something that is not to be underestimated. I go to school in Western Europe, Ireland to be precise, and academic standards are as good as any Western country.

plus basics and clinicals are COMPLETELY different ballgames. u will see when u are med 4.

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But remember that, even when those who move you be kings or men of power, your soul is in your keeping alone. When you stand before God you cannot say "but I was told by others to do thus" or that "virtue was not convenient at the time." This will not suffice. Remember that.

Not entirely true. A lot of basic science is used in clinicals, the reasoning why you would start X treatment on a patient, adjust Y electrolytes, what Z on the lab really means, why nurses freak out when they really shouldn't, etc. There's even molecular and immuno stuff thrown everywhere, but of course not anywhere near the extent that you did in Basic. But to say they're completely different ballgames is misleading as you'll still be brushing up your anatomy, your pathology, microbiology, etc.

And when you deliver presentations, you better know in-depth stuff about what you're talking about which usually requires careful reading of Harrison's and such.

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the ones you should even be more afraid of... the 70 year old doctor who should have retired before developing the first stages of dementia. there needs to be another system in place to put these people in check. i know from personal experience, these doctors can harm you just as much.

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M.D., PGY-1
Internal Medicine / future interests - Infectious Diseases Fellowship