What are the merits and demerits of doing an MD in general medicine?

<p>General medicine, alias internal medicine, comes with its set of merits and demerits in choosing an MD.<br><strong>Merits:</strong></p><ul><li><strong>Scope of Knowledge:</strong> An MD in general medicine confers knowledge on a wide variety of medical conditions, diagnostic techniques, and treating options in the different organ systems.</li><li><strong>Versatility:</strong> A general medicine MD is trained in the diagnosis and management of a wide range of disorders and diseases; hence, they are versatile doctors in treating a broad spectrum of the needs of patients.</li><li><strong>Foundational to Specialization:</strong> An MD in general medicine thus will be a good foundation for one who would later like to specialize in one area of medicine.</li><li><strong>Holistic Approach:&nbsp;</strong>Internal medicine is concerned with the 'holistic approach' while undertaking patient care. It encompasses the prevention, diagnosis, and treatment of several diseases and disorders in the adult patient population.</li><li><strong>Career Opportunities:</strong> Students attaining an MD in general medicine have a wide scope of career opportunities, from primary care practice to hospitalists, from academic medicine and research fields to healthcare administration.</li></ul><p><strong>Demerits:</strong></p><ul><li><strong>Heavy Workload:</strong> Residencies in internal medicine largely go in correlation with heavy work hours and loaded patient caseloads, predisposing residents and practitioners to burnout.</li><li><strong>Broad Scope of Practice:</strong> Though the broad scope within Internal Medicine may be viewed as a merit, this is sometimes considered a demerit for those practitioners who get overwhelmed by the depth of knowledge required in various medical conditions.</li><li><strong>Limited Specialization:&nbsp;</strong>Though the general medicine course imparts broad-based fundamentals, it lacks the in-depth specialization offered by other medical specialities with a narrower scope.</li><li><strong>Complex Patients:&nbsp;</strong>The internal medicine physician tends to deal with complex cases medically, hence intellectually stimulating but emotionally tiring.</li></ul>

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