Primum non nocere is a Latin phrase that means “first, do no harm.” It is one of the primary bioethics rules that all medical students are taught in school.
However, after reading an article in the New York Times entitled “I Have a Ph.D. in Not Having Money“, it would seem that medical students are themselves subjected to significant financial and psychological harm by the very institution that is supposed to prepare them for a career that most want to pursue out of a desire to help their communities.
It is frustrating to read that money is the main obstacle preventing more people from becoming doctors at a time when so many towns and cities are dealing with severe medical staffing shortages.
Imagine what could be accomplished in a society that eliminated the barrier of student debt. Access to higher education would be possible to those who want to contribute to solving pressing global issues like basic health care, pollution, clean energy, malnourishment and hunger, as well as social inequality.
For now, unfortunately, money is a tremendous barrier to much-needed forward progress.
It is — right now — doing the most harm.
