Fifty years ago, being a doctor was like being a cross between a wizard and a rock star. People would whisper in awe when you walked by: “There goes Dr. High-and-Mighty, saving lives and curing everything from a runny nose to a broken heart!” My dad used to tell me stories about how he would get waved past security, cut to the front of lines, score doctor discounts, and park anywhere he pleased, legal or not. Being a doctor was like having a VIP pass to society.
Today? Well, if it is admiration you are after, you would have better luck dressing up as Spider-Man and doing flips in Times Square. At least Spidey does not get blamed for prior authorizations.
The death of medical swagger
Back then, doctors were revered. Patients brought gifts, such as fine chocolates, homemade pies, or maybe even a bottle of scotch, as thank-you offerings for their life-saving wizardry. These days, if a patient brings you anything, it is an expired coupon for a flu shot or a two-star rating review that begins with, “First of all, the waiting room smelled weird.”
Remember when doctors had swagger? They would stroll into the exam room with the confidence of someone who could genuinely fix you, or at least fake it convincingly. The white coat, the clipboard, the aura of competence. People would sit up straighter, hang on their every word, and pray they left with something that cured both their bronchitis and their existential dread.
Now? Doctors are sprinting between patients, hunched over computers like caffeinated data entry clerks, while trying to remember whether the log-on password was changed again. Swagger has been replaced by chronic back pain, heartburn, and a strong preference for noise-canceling headphones.
From a small island to a plea for tech
And do not get me started on the status. Back then, telling someone you were a doctor was like saying, “I own a small island.” Eyes widened. Doors opened. You were Somebody. Now, say you are a doctor and you will likely hear, “Oh wow, must be stressful. Have you thought about switching to tech, or maybe teaching is a plan B?”
Even the tools of the trade have changed. A stethoscope used to be a symbol of authority and competence. Today, it is just another prop in a TikTok skit, right next to the ring light and the nurse practitioner doing voiceovers.
The paperwork pandemic
And the paperwork! Fifty years ago, a doctor’s day was spent healing people and occasionally playing golf. Now? We spend at least 40 percent of our time clicking boxes that confirm we washed our hands and another 40 percent arguing with insurance companies about whether or not pneumonia is “medically necessary.”
In conclusion, being a doctor today is not what it used to be. The epic prestige has faded, the pay is as tangled as a Gordian knot, and the paperwork is a never-ending process. And hey, we do not even get to wear those stylish white coats anymore. M.D. used to mean “Most Distinguished.” Now it is “Mostly Drained.”
Paul Dranichnikov is a physician in Sweden.
