What You Can Learn from MIT Neurosurgeon Who Quit (Dr. Goobie Reaction)

Summary

Dr. Gooby, an MIT-trained neurosurgeon, shares his profound disillusionment with the medical system in a 45-minute video. He candidly discusses the limitations of spinal surgeries in addressing the root causes of pain, and the financial incentives driving the healthcare industry. His decision to leave a lucrative career to pursue a more meaningful approach to healing challenges the status quo and raises important questions about the ethics and efficacy of common medical practices.

Takeaways

• 🎓 A neurosurgeon with MIT training quit his job due to dissatisfaction with the medical system's approach to patient care.
• 🌳 Dr. Gooby chose to share his insights in a 45-minute video, filmed in a mosquito-infested wilderness, to convey profound wisdom about the medical industry.
• 🔍 He expressed concern about the medical system's focus on surgeries and pills rather than addressing the root causes of health issues, particularly with back surgeries.
• 🏥 The healthcare industry's economic model is criticized for prioritizing revenue from procedures over effective healing methods that may not generate income.
• 💡 Dr. Gooby highlighted the discrepancy between his training to help people and the reality that many surgeries only provide temporary relief without fixing the underlying problems.
• 🤔 The script raises questions about the ethics of a system that may perpetuate surgeries that don't necessarily improve patient outcomes, due to financial incentives.
• 💰 It points out the issue with insurance companies needing to increase expenditures to justify raising premiums and thus increase profits.
• 😔 Dr. Gooby's personal struggle with his role in a system that he felt was not truly focused on healing but rather on generating profit from surgeries and medications.
• 🚫 The video transcript suggests that there is a lack of transparency and honesty in reporting the success rates of surgeries, which can mislead patients about their potential outcomes.
• 🌟 Dr. Gooby is commended for his bravery and honesty in stepping away from a lucrative career to speak out against a system he believes is flawed.
• 📚 The speaker encourages viewers to seek out more information about the history of orthopedic surgery and the evidence behind different procedures to make informed decisions about their health.

Q & A

What was the main reason Dr. Gooby quit his job as a neurosurgeon?

Dr. Gooby quit his job because he felt that the medical system was not focused on healing but on making money from surgeries and pills, and he was unhappy with the fact that the surgeries he performed were not addressing the root causes of patients' conditions.

What does Dr. Gooby specialize in as a neurosurgeon?

Dr. Gooby specialized in spine surgery, which is a common procedure in neurosurgery to fix worn-out necks and backs.

Why did Dr. Gooby feel unhappy in his job despite having a high-paying and respected position?

Dr. Gooby felt unhappy because he realized that the surgeries he was performing were not always helping patients and were not addressing the root causes of their pain, which went against his understanding of what it means to be a good doctor.

What is minimally invasive spine surgery, and how does it relate to Dr. Gooby's work?

Minimally invasive spine surgery is a technique that uses small incisions and advanced navigation systems to perform spine surgeries with less damage to the surrounding tissues. Dr. Gooby learned and practiced these techniques, but later questioned their effectiveness in truly helping patients.

What was the oath Dr. Gooby took in medical school, and how did it influence his perspective on his job?

Dr. Gooby took an oath in medical school to relieve suffering, which influenced his perspective on his job by making him question whether the surgeries he was performing were truly relieving patients' suffering or just providing a short-term solution.

How does the medical system's focus on revenue affect the types of treatments offered to patients?

The medical system's focus on revenue often leads to the promotion of expensive procedures like surgeries, which generate more income for hospitals and doctors, even if these procedures do not necessarily provide the best long-term outcomes for patients.

What is the issue with the current system when a doctor finds a non-surgical, cost-effective solution for a patient's condition?

If a doctor finds a non-surgical, cost-effective solution, it could threaten the hospital's revenue stream, as they would not be able to charge for expensive procedures, potentially leading to financial trouble for the hospital and the doctor.

Why are insurance companies also invested in the continuation of expensive medical procedures?

Insurance companies are invested in expensive medical procedures because they need to increase their expenditures to justify raising premiums and thus increase their profits, while maintaining the percentage of revenue they are allowed to keep as profit by law.

What does Dr. Gooby suggest about the success rates of surgeries like spinal surgery?

Dr. Gooby suggests that the success rates of surgeries like spinal surgery are not as high as they may seem, and that there is often an effort to conceal the true success rates or redefine what success means, rather than focusing on the actual improvement in patients' conditions.

What is the moral dilemma Dr. Gooby faced in his practice, and how did he resolve it?

Dr. Gooby faced a moral dilemma of continuing to perform surgeries that were not always effective in healing patients versus quitting a well-paying job. He resolved it by choosing to quit his job, prioritizing the true healing of patients over financial gain.

What is the call to action for viewers considering joint surgeries or interested in learning more about orthopedic surgery?

The call to action for viewers is to read an article provided in the description box, which discusses the history of orthopedic surgery, evidence regarding its effectiveness, and the perverse incentives within the medical system that may influence treatment choices.

Outlines

00:00

🎓 A Neurosurgeon's Dilemma: The Medical System's Reality

Dr. Gooby, an MIT-trained neurosurgeon, shares his profound dissatisfaction with the medical system in a 45-minute video. He explains his unhappiness stemmed not from personal issues but from the system's inherent flaws. Despite being well-paid and respected, he felt a disconnect because the surgeries he performed, while sometimes alleviating pain temporarily, did not address the root causes of back and neck pain. His training emphasized relieving suffering, but he found that the reality of his job often fell short of this ideal. This paragraph highlights the conflict between a doctor's oath to help and the limitations of the medical system in providing long-term solutions.

05:00

🏥 The Financial Incentives Behind Medical Procedures

This paragraph delves into the economic motivations driving the medical industry, particularly focusing on surgeries like spinal operations. It discusses how hospitals rely on revenue from expensive procedures to stay afloat, which can lead to a focus on profit rather than healing. The narrative suggests that the system is not designed to promote long-term health solutions that patients can manage independently, as these would threaten the financial model of healthcare institutions. The speaker also touches on the insurance industry's role in perpetuating this cycle by requiring increased expenditures to justify higher premiums and profits.

10:01

🚑 The Ethical Struggle of a Surgeon: Prioritizing Healing Over Profit

In this paragraph, the focus shifts to the ethical struggle faced by Dr. Gooby as he grapples with the reality of his profession. He found himself questioning the true success rates of surgeries and the honesty with which he and his peers assessed their outcomes. The narrative emphasizes the importance of not being blinded by sunk costs or financial incentives and highlights Dr. Gooby's decision to prioritize his moral compass over the lucrative but ethically challenging path of continuing to perform surgeries with uncertain benefits. The speaker encourages viewers to consider the systemic issues at play when contemplating joint surgeries and to seek out more information on the history and evidence behind such procedures.

Keywords

💡Neurosurgeon

A neurosurgeon is a specialized physician who performs surgery on the nervous system, including the brain, spinal cord, and nerves. In the video's context, the neurosurgeon, Dr. Gooby, is the central figure who quit his job due to ethical concerns about the medical system. His role is crucial in discussing the limitations and implications of spinal surgeries.

💡Medical System

The medical system refers to the organization and infrastructure through which health care is provided, including hospitals, clinics, and health professionals. The video critiques the medical system for prioritizing financial gain over patient well-being, as it perpetuates surgeries that may not address the root causes of health issues.

💡Spine Surgery

Spine surgery is a type of operation performed to treat conditions affecting the spine, such as herniated discs, spinal stenosis, or scoliosis. The video script discusses the limitations of spine surgery, highlighting that it often provides only temporary relief and does not cure the underlying issues causing back pain.

💡Minimally Invasive Spine Surgery

Minimally invasive spine surgery is a surgical technique that uses small incisions and specialized instruments to reduce tissue damage and recovery time. The script mentions this technique as part of the advanced surgical skills the neurosurgeon learned, but questions its effectiveness in providing long-term solutions.

💡Root Cause

The root cause is the underlying reason for a problem or issue. In the video, Dr. Gooby reflects on the fact that surgeries he performed did not address the root causes of patients' back problems, leading to his dissatisfaction with the medical approach to treatment.

💡Economic Growth

Economic growth refers to the increase in the production of goods and services in an economy over time. The script implies that hospitals and the medical system are driven by the need for economic growth, which influences the over-reliance on surgeries and procedures for revenue.

💡Insurance Companies

Insurance companies provide coverage against risk, including health insurance that covers medical expenses. The script touches on the role of insurance companies in the medical system, suggesting that they may have a vested interest in high medical expenditures to increase their profits.

💡Success Rates

Success rates refer to the percentage of successful outcomes in a given activity or procedure. The video script points out that the success rates of surgeries like hip, knee, and spine surgeries are not as high as one might expect, and there is an effort to conceal this information.

💡Moral Character

Moral character pertains to the qualities of an individual that determine their moral judgments and behavior. The script praises Dr. Gooby for his moral character in choosing to quit his job rather than continue with practices he deemed unethical.

💡Perverse Incentives

Perverse incentives are circumstances in which actions intended to help have the unintended consequence of causing harm. The video discusses how the medical system's financial incentives can lead to practices that may not be in the best interest of patients, such as unnecessary surgeries.

💡Healing

Healing refers to the process of recovery from illness or injury. The script contrasts the focus on healing with the focus on making money from surgeries and pills, suggesting that the medical system has strayed from its primary goal of promoting health.

Highlights

A former MIT trained neurosurgeon, Dr. Gooby, released a video explaining his decision to quit his job, which was not due to office drama but the structure of the medical system.

Dr. Gooby's dissatisfaction stemmed from the realization that his surgeries were not addressing the root causes of patients' conditions, despite being well-paid and respected.

The video discusses the limitations of minimally invasive spine surgery and its inability to fix the underlying issues causing back pain.

Dr. Gooby's training emphasized relieving suffering, but he found that the surgeries he performed often did not achieve this goal.

The medical system is criticized for prioritizing revenue from surgeries and pills over actual healing.

Hospitals and insurance companies are implicated in a system that encourages expensive procedures for financial gain rather than patient benefit.

Dr. Gooby highlights the ethical dilemma of performing surgeries that may not improve patient outcomes, but are financially beneficial for the medical industry.

The video challenges the common perception that well-paid surgeons are content with their work and life, revealing personal unhappiness and moral conflict.

Dr. Gooby's honesty about the mixed success rates of surgeries and the emotional toll it took on him is a call for a reevaluation of medical practices.

The transcript underscores the importance of considering non-surgical alternatives for treating back and joint pain, questioning the overreliance on invasive procedures.

Dr. Gooby's experience suggests that the medical industry's focus on revenue generation can lead to patient dissatisfaction and unaddressed health issues.

The video implies a need for a systemic change in the medical industry to prioritize patient well-being over financial interests.

Dr. Gooby's decision to leave his profession was driven by a deep sense of moral responsibility and a desire to align his work with his values.

The transcript raises questions about the transparency and honesty in reporting surgical success rates and the impact on patient expectations.

Dr. Gooby's story serves as an example of the moral courage required to challenge the status quo within the medical field and prioritize patient care.

The video encourages viewers to seek out alternative methods for managing pain and health, suggesting that the current medical system may not always offer the best solutions.

The transcript concludes with an invitation for further discussion and a call to action for those interested in exploring non-surgical health solutions.

Transcripts

last week an incredibly Brave human

being released a video that kind of blew

my mind and will probably blow your mind

too if you haven't seen it already so an

MIT trained neurosurgeon quit his job

and explained to the entire world last

week why he quit his job and it doesn't

have anything to do with office drama or

anything like that it has to do with the

way the medical system is set up the way

surgeries help and don't help the human

body and really it has to do with what

it means to be a human being who feels

good about his or her place in the world

so this guy Dr Gooby made a video that's

quite long about 45 minutes long he's

standing in the mosquito infested

Wilderness and he delivers some

incredible pieces of wisdom that you and

I are going to watch here and he's going

to be talking about some key pieces

about the medical system that you need

to hear about back surgery that you need

to hear about the realities of what

spinal surgery can even do for you so

let's jump right into it this clip is

from around 8 minutes into the video and

he gets into some pretty deep vulnerable

stuff here so in my last year of

residency I um I learned how to do spine

surgery cuz that's what most

neurosurgeons do it's the most common

thing is what a regular neurosurgery job

is is fixing people's um worn out necks

and

backs and uh you know I

graduated and I got my first job and um

yeah I knew that something was not right

right

away you know I had good partners I had

good hospitals that I worked that uh but

something was not right I was very

unhappy I I and on the surface it didn't

make sense I had um I was getting paid

very well it was a very well-respected

job I had good colleagues had good

support but I was the most

unhappy um that I've ever been and I

couldn't really figure it out for a long

time when you think about a neurosurgeon

you're generally going to think of them

as somebody who's well paid and pretty

happy with their life because they're

probably pulling down about a half

million dollars a year but for this guy

to come out and say hey I knew something

was wrong from the beginning should clue

you into what's happening within the

medical system he's going to explain

this a little bit more but when you

think about any job you've had that you

you hated it probably had something to

do with your having to do stuff you

think is

pointless and for which you are

unappreciated so he doesn't quite

understand at this point but a couple

minutes later he gets right to the heart

of it it's around 10 minutes and 12

seconds in going back to medical school

when when I took that oath and I had

that um older Professor say that your

job is to relieve suffering you know

that's what I

understood to um of what it means to be

a good doctor and I had learned all

these fancy spine surgery techniques to

do all this incredible surgery work

through tiny cuts and it's called

minimally evasive spine surgery it's the

latest

technology we use navigation like a GPS

inside the operating room like all all

the latest techniques you know I learned

and I learned how to do well and I I did

them and I I helped I helped a lot of

people

out but there were way more people that

I couldn't help and that's because um so

his training made him believe hey my job

is to help people but is my job really

helping people how would you feel if you

were trained to help people but

everything you were shown how to do

didn't seem to to actually help what I

what I realized later on is that you

those those aren't fixing the problem

there's so many people with with back

problems neck pain back pain nerve pain

down their arms and

legs

surgery surgery might make him better

for a little bit but it didn't address

what caused that disc to wear out or the

disc to bulge or the joint to get

loose or the

the the disc in between the bones to

disappear and then the bones are rubbing

on each other those surgeries they don't

address that if you have ever been

considering spinal surgery or any other

joint surgery what he just said there is

so vitally important surgery doesn't fix

the root cause at best it's just

providing a short-term

solution so what I was doing was I was

doing the surgeries that I learned how

to do I was trying to help people but

these surgeries they weren't fixing the

problem they would help some people feel

better some people would feel the same

some people would be worse u a lot of

people I saw in clinic I had to tell

them that oh surgery is not going to

help

you and of course they would be

devastated cuz I was sort of their last

hope there is so much honesty and

bravery for this former surgeon to be

saying what he's saying it everything

he's saying is actually borne out in the

research literature as well the

surgeries that surgeons do to fix your

back pain or your hip pain or whatever

they're not guaranteed they're nowhere

near guaranteed and this surgeon had to

face it and see it every day and

honestly assess whether or not what he

was doing was helping people and he saw

well sometimes they got better sometimes

they're the same and sometimes they get

worse so it's not like you can say oh my

back hurts the surgeon's going to fix me

if you have a well-trained surgeon with

experience and he's still telling you

well you might get better you might get

worse you might be the same what does

that say about the actual surgery that

all weighed really heavy cuz I thought I

was going to relieve suffering and I did

relieve some suffering but I saw so much

more suffering that I couldn't

relieve even if I tried even if I tried

to do

surgery and so then I want to jump way

ahead in the video where he actually

talks about the medical system why are

surgeries like spinal surgeries still

being done to fix people when they

clearly don't fix the root cause and

don't deliver on the results but the way

that everything is set up in the whole

country it's not any particular Hospital

the way things are set up is that

the hospital needs to make money they

need to make money they need to they

need to

grow economically they need to grow

economically the problem there is that

if you figure out a way to help patients

heal and that and that way doesn't

include a pill or a surgery

well then the hospital and the doctor

are in big trouble

because if you figure out a way to help

people heal and you can't charge them

for it well then you've just um worked

yourself out of a job so that basically

Nails it this is something that I've

been saying to people about shoulder

surgery hip surgery and also spinal

surgery for years you have to understand

exactly what Dr Gooby is saying here the

hospitals depend on the revenue that

they get from

expensive

procedures if they don't keep pushing

and Performing these expensive

procedures these hospitals

close you have to lay off nurses and

doctors if you find a cheap easy easily

accessible cure for people's back pain

hip pain knee pain shoulder pain

whatever then you have killed the Golden

Goose so you're you're not allowed to

propagate and promote

solutions that people have control of

themselves that they can easily do

themselves maybe not always easily but

which they can actually do without

needing to go through a highly trained

highly paid professional that's a system

that's designed to make you make bad

decisions and choose procedures that are

not actually

in your best interest but I really felt

like really felt like the focus of

medicine wasn't in the right place it

wasn't in healing it was in making money

from surgeries and pills and

images whatever you can make money from

again it's all about how much revenue

can be derived from procedures whether

it's your x-rays your pills your

specialist consult the surgery you

eventually get the hospital makes money

all the professionals involved make

money Dr Gooby doesn't even get into the

insurance side of this but I'll link to

another doctor who has actually

discussed this in detail but the short

version of this is that in order for

insurance companies to increase their

profits they also need to increase their

expenditures because they are required

by law to spend a certain percentage of

what they bring in they're only allowed

to keep a c certain percentage as profit

and so if you want the total amount of

profit you're making to go up next year

you have to make sure that every single

year the amount you're spending is going

up as well so that you can justify

increasing the premiums so that the size

of the pi is getting bigger so that even

though you're keeping that same

percentage of Pi the pi is getting

larger and larger

the amount of pie you're getting to keep

as the insurance company is getting

larger and larger now Dr Gooby does go

on to explain in this video how

miserable he was and the terrible toll

he was taking on his mind and his body

and his spirit and I really encourage

you wherever you are in your life to

watch the video to listen to it I

encourage you to just put it on two

times speed because there are a lot of

moments of Silence where he's thinking

so you can just listen to it as a

podcast and here are some of his

thoughts and here are some of the things

that really were torturing him and

really drove him to make this final

decision of you know what I'm done I've

got to get out of here I talk a lot

about hip surgery knee surgery shoulder

surgery spinal surgery even foot surgery

on this channel and everything you've

just heard doct Gooby say is going to be

applicable to whatever surgery you're

considering ing when you look at the

success rates of hip surgeries and

shoulder surgeries you're going to find

that there is a lot of gobble deg there

is a lot of effort to conceal the true

success rates in weird little numbers

and allowing surgeons to determine what

success really means instead of asking

patients what it really means and Dr

Gooby is a

really admirable example of a surgeon

who was really being honest with his

results honest in assessing whether he

was succeeding and really paying

attention to whether his patients were

really doing better and he didn't let

the sunk costs blind him to the

realities of what he was doing and he

didn't allow himself to get sucked into

well I'm making good money so

that's that's it that's all that's the

only motivation I need to keep doing

this but not everybody makes that moral

decision and that and that really does

show a level of moral character that I

think all of us should applaud and all

of us should take as an example wherever

we are in our lives and whatever

decisions we're trying to make about our

livelihoods if you are thinking about

some sort of joint surgery and you're

interested in learning a little more

about the history of orthopedic surgery

looking at some of the evidence and also

understanding all of these perverse

incentives I do have an article that

I'll link to in the description box that

I encourage you to read my figurative

hat is off to Dr Gooby this was such an

incredible display of bravery and

honesty if you're out there Dr Gooby

seeing this I'd love to talk to you if

you're a friend of Dr goobies and you

can somehow get us in touch so that I

can interview him and speak with him I

would love that and I appreciate your

help if you have any other thoughts

you'd like to share about this video

drop them in the comment section down

below subscribe to this channnel and if

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you as always I hope you remember that

pain sucks life shouldn't