>The medical profession today is about where the engineering profession was at the beginning of the last century.
>
>Then, they, like doctors, would put out a shingle and invent for clients.
>Along came the modern corporation and as patents blocked other patents and the economics of the field changed.
>
>This is very nicely illustrated in a book called "America by Design"
>
>That book and my father threatening to disown me if I pursed a medical career were largely responsible for my pursuing other directions.
>
>And, yes, you are right, mid-level managers in health maintenance organizations are making more money now a days than physicians.


Your father threatened to disown you if you pursued a medical career? Was he a doctor himself? Otherwise I consider that an outlandish statement.

What reasons did he give you?