THE FIVE MYTHS OF MEDICAL MALPRACTICE: MYTH #3

Myth #3: Doctors are Leaving the Practice of Medicine.


The number of practicing physicians in the United States has been growing steadily for decades. In 2007, the most recent year for which data are available, there were 941,304 physicians in the U.S., nearly 20,000 more than the year before.

Not only are there more doctors, but the number of doctors is increasing faster than population growth. In 2007, the number of physicians per 100,000 population is at an all-time high of 307. The increase of physician numbers compared to population growth climbed steadily for decades. There are now twice as many physicians per 100,000 population as there were in the 1960's.

Despite the cries of physicians fleeing multiple states, the number of physicians increased in every state. All of the above statistics come from the American Medical Association.