Tov ShebiRofim LeGehennem: the best doctors go to hell

Many commentators emphasize “the best” part.  It is only the best doctors that go to hell, ordinary doctors are ordinary people, they go wherever they deserve.

 

My old favorite interpretation was that the best doctors (perhaps as a consequence of the praise heaped upon them) are so (over)confident that they do not ask advice from others, and therefore make avoidable mistakes.  This interpretation has colored my practice, it had become a motto for me. I try to look everything up and ask for advice.

 

Recently, I heard Shmuelly Bornstein report (commenting on Gittin 73)  that people believe that the best doctors are those that do not do the harmful things necessary to cure the patient. Homeopaths, spirit healers. These charlatans obviously have a special place in hell for all the people they keep from getting optimal treatment.

 

Today, I thought of a new interpretation.  The best doctors are those who write guidelines and set standards. They believe in their models and theories. They certainly believe in their laboratory results. They end up trying to keep their models prominent, even when they are superseded by new discoveries. IN our times, they are the consultants for pharma, giant drug companies that market their money making drugs.  The drug companies delay the launch of better medicines to maximize  their profits, take advantage of patent laws. They design studies (studies only they can sponsor because of the expense)  to maximize sales, even if people who do not benefit from their product  receive it.  These best doctors certainly belong in hell.