Drug problem worsening in France

[Quiksilver]

Vocation is a difficult thing in this day and age
I think a lot of people do essentially feel a sense of vocation but whether thay can afford to follow that is another matter. In the UK doctors pay has fallen in real terms by some 30+ % over the last several years. If you want a family,decent property and a nice life style you can get that with a lot less effort and not take 15 years to get there. Same with policing the pay is not bad but it’s not wonderful and there’s much easier ways to earn a lot more

But that's the whole definition of vocation, isn't it? A sense of doing a worthwhile, valuable job not solely for the monetary reward but because it's contributing to a better society? I get the impression that it does still exist in UK to a certain extent, but it's long gone here in France. As student doctors are seduced by the pharmaceutical companies before they've even finished their training, and the system demands that GPs are accountants too, I wouldn't have thought that many make the grade via a respect for the Hippocratic oath. If it even exists here...something to Google this evening

[Pathca]

I think it does still exist The point I was trying to make is it’s wonderful to have a vocation (I know) but for certain people they just can not follow that vocation ,usually for financial reasons ,a worthwhile valuable job doesn’t always pay the bills sadly and it can be a matter of priorities

[Quiksilver]

That covers the people who would have entered the profession if they could afford to, but what about the ones (especially in France) who are in the profession but shouldn't be? About 90% of MTs if my experiences are anything to go by.

[Pathca]

I can’t really comment because the UK system does tend to encourage those that have a degree of vocation and I don’t know enough about medicine/ nursing in France
In the UK not every medical school does swear the Hippocratic oath and really it is more ceremonial although some people value it

[MAD87]

[quote=Quiksilver post_id=56832 time=1730745928 user_id=297

I wouldn't have thought that many make the grade via a respect for the Hippocratic oath. If it even exists here...something to Google this evening
[/quote] My daughter took the oath (in Toulouse), only substitutting references to Man/Men by Woman/Women. That was apparently a common practice, most entrants being women.
As for vocation, my sprog is very attached to the public sector, unlike the vast majority of her fellow students in the 90s, most of whom are partners in clinics. One has worked overseas for yonks and tried to persuade her to join her in Switzerland - x 3 tha salary, half the hours. It's common in the public sector to wonder what the hell you're doing there and why you're flogging yourself for no thanks. I felt like that in the CPS and emigrated!

[Quiksilver]

How heart-warming to hear the other side of the coin, MAD. I was hoping that my experiences were the exception rather than the norm.
Look what I found! https://www.conseil-national.medecin.fr ... hippocrate
Pondering the wisdom of sending a copy to my MT .....he claims to respect 'frankness' above all things, although in his case that translates as rudeness, arrogance and even aggression. Should I see if he respects frankness in both directions?

[Blaze]

Many people who work to help others have a vocation - the medical world, social services, the police, teachers etc. Their jobs are often thankless, the conditions grim and many take a huge amount of stick from the public when they're doing the best they can in the circumstances.

Lifestyle expectations are high today which may make the afore-mentioned careers less attractive. I don't think the vocation aspect is any different in France than the UK, there are dedicated people everywhere - I certainly see them here in our area in all walks of life. The young surgeon who operated on my hand showed me his work timetable - extremely long hours, and he was married with 2 young children. Money doesn't necessarily compensate a disrupted family life.
I think I've already mentioned this, but GPs are hard to find in this area, even on the coast as young doctors don't want to be on call 24/24 in a village full of tourists in summer and oldies in winter. Those with children want to be nearer a town with some sort of life and activities. Who can blame them ?

It's not just about money, but quality time for many.

[MAD87]

I've been lucky enough to have had great MTs for the last 30+ years, none agressive, rude or arrogant. Most have been chatty, if gently chiding for my (former) lifestyle. Maybe it 's the Haute-Vienne environment, where everyone seems to know everyone else. I'm forever being asked whether I'm related to one or other of my children, in all sorts of circumstances. One of my sons was giving an aikido course a fortnight ago when he was approached by one of the stagiaires who asked whether he was related to my daughter or her parents. He turned out to be my opthalmologist...

I don't blame those who want a life outside their work. Perhaps in the medical world however, the authorities could offer new doctors places in areas where they're actually needed, rather than allowing them to choose themselves - it was always the case that doctors chose to train in non-urgent specialities in Paris, Bordeaux and Toulouse.

Back to the drug problem: the new Interior Min is contemplating establishing a specialised prosecution unit to deal with drug offences - with, I'm glad to hear, specially trained judges. French judges are a blight on the justice system (I know, that's a sweeping generalisation, but true enough), usually coming from "good" families and graduating from judge school in their 20s with no experience of society's underbelly. That's where the English system scores over continental and US systems.

[Niftyons]

Better target the smugglers - if the dealers have nothing to deal then the rest of the issues go.

I don’t know much about supply in France but in the 198Os there was a lot of gear getting into England through a foreign embassy.

[MAD87]

Better target the smugglers - if the dealers have nothing to deal then the rest of the issues go.

I don’t know much about supply in France but in the 1988s tree was a lot of gear getting into England through a foreign embassy.

Stuff comes into France via containers, boats and cars. International cooperation results in the interception of quite a lot.