How does that make any sense? Aren't student graduates actually paid to do those residency programs? If it's too expensive to train them, can't they take a pay cut? How come no other profession requires federal funding for placing/training graduates? Makes absolutely no sense unless you uncritically accept the status quo.
Residents are paid an average salary of $64K. That's less than many entry-level STEM jobs, and they often work up to 80 hours per week. They can't afford to take a pay cut. And hospitals incur other costs for running residency programs which go beyond paying resident salaries.
Most other private sector professions don't require nearly as much postgraduate training before being allowed to work. Prospective lawyers usually take the bar exam less than a year after graduating from law school. Medicine is simply more complex.
What would you propose as an alternative to the status quo? The AMA has proposed a number of improvements, but perhaps there are alternatives?
