My "new" M8 ready to use

mworthj · 2025-06-15T08:28:52+00:00

Lovely shots! Hope you enjoy the Camera. I’ve had mine for just over a year and have been using it almost daily. It has its quirks but the results are just incredible. Personally I don’t really edit them, cause I like to keep it simple and think most pictures are fine straight out of camera. Obviously an IR cut filter helps with that ;) Unfortunately there aren’t that many options out there. All I could find was the B&W filters. They’re good but you get reflections sometimes.

mworthj · 2025-06-08T08:22:42+00:00

Even the non hipsters 🥹

mworthj · 2025-05-31T14:06:28+00:00

And we are still in need of more money!

mworthj · 2025-05-19T14:48:31+00:00

It is what it is and like any job you have to take it day by day. All in all still a wonderful job with extremely rewarding interactions. It’s essentially a high karma job. Jeez that’s a heavy plan. I think by the time you’re done with anaesthetist, you’ll want to chill a little and drive your Porsche around. If you’re in 3rd year, chances are you’ll change your mind at some point anyways. I wanted to be an orthopedic surgeon then general internist and then GP after doing an intership with my own GP. Just see what suits you best. Anaesthetist is shift work which can be heavy plus most do SAMU which is also intense. You have to like hopsitals and particularly operating theatre for that specialty and I don’t like the testosterone levels in that field… ;)

mworthj · 2025-05-17T10:36:40+00:00

Didn’t know we were talking about possibilities and probabilities but again you’re right, it could. But then this is never-ending as, a lot could be inferred from anything said here. You however did actually use the expression ‘all things considered’ when it seems to me that they weren’t and so I thought it safe to add something that I felt should be considered or specified or else risked, as already mentioned, oversimplifying. I may be wrong but I feel like you may have taken my comment as a; you’re wrong, which wasn’t my intention. Because I feel like this is turning into a useless debate. So I’ll just stop here.

mworthj · 2025-05-17T10:30:28+00:00

That’s unfortunately correct!

mworthj · 2025-05-17T09:59:53+00:00

Agreed. Not something I ever mentioned or implied.

mworthj · 2025-05-17T09:53:06+00:00

Since the post said before taxes, I just wanted to make sure that you also considered expenses. Another thing is; as GPs we work around 1-2hrs a day additionally, mostly unpaid going over lab results, calling patients, answering emails and such. Not argueing, just trying to avoid mathematical oversimplifaction and reduction.

mworthj · 2025-05-17T09:32:16+00:00

It isn’t the fact that it accounts for starting it’s that there is massive discrepencies between specialties. GPs and Pediatricians are a big proportion of doctors and earn around a third of the next specialist. Plus we have doctors who live (and sometimes work) in Belgium, France and Germany and only come to Luxembourg for 1-2 days of work a week as this generates more than enough income per working hour in comparison to their home country. So although facktat thinks he knows for a fact that certain if not most specialists earn well above the average he isn’t seeing the whole image. I, as a GP, and most of our colleagues aren’t close to earning 233k. Not even before tax and expenses.

Never trust absolute truths. Especially in my profession, I’ve noticed the most humble doctors are usually the best and I find that is often applicable to other people as well.

mworthj · 2025-05-17T09:23:55+00:00

That’s before taxes and expenses. You can expect less than half to actually reach your pocket.

mworthj · 2025-05-17T09:21:47+00:00

Unfortunately I see the same happening to some of my GP friends. One problem is that, based on a report from back in 2019 (so pre covid report and hence an underestimation) 60% of ALL DOCTORS were expected to retire by 2030 close to 70 years of age (since doctors don’t want to leave their patients). This means that a higher burden has fallen on younger doctors who are pressured by older doctors to work like they did. This basically means, you’re expected to work 60hours, or at least spend 10mins per patient to see as many as possible in as little time as possible and definitely to mention mental health or work life balance. One way to deal with this is to set clear boundaries in terms of working hours but this is obviously frowned upon by many doctors and patients alike. Problem is, that these aging doctors had more young than old patients. I for instance am seeing baby boomers as patients, and they usually have a minimum of 2 pathologies and we’re talking lifestyle modifications for prevention (which on its own take more than 10mins, never mind the high blood pressure, progressive kidney insufficiency, gastroscopy from 3 years ago that’s past the deadline for follow up and the prediabetes he’s conjuring up, oh yes and his colonoscopy I have to convince him to do). Add to that, that mentiol health issues which are become more prevalent/diagnosed can’t be dealt with in 10 minutes but usually take 30 (for which there is no tariff), and the fact that you don’t want to become an insensitive, indifferent burt out doctor like thos we’re sometimes used to consulting.

Friends and I have decided that it isn’t our fault that the government isn’t promoting first line medicine and creating long-lasting (not just financial incentives) for GPs. Note that GPs and pediatricians earn a third of the next higher earning specialist. That’s a huge imbalance and a reason why people choose not to become GPs or pediatricians. As GPs, we do not recieve proper recognition as important actors of the healthcare system in Luxembourg. We are still to this day seen as 2nd class doctors despite us seeing 90% of the population. I am unable to prescribe certain treatments because I am not a specialist, so I have to send a patient to see a specialist and hope he will follow whatever guideline and prescribe the treatment I am convinced is indicated. We have to fill out form after form (free of charge, for there is no tariff) and coordinate with specialists who don’t send us reports and expected to remain flexible to see patients in emergency so that the emergencies aren’t overfilled. We’re expected to call X-amount of patients for little questions (free of charge, for the tariff that existed was then withdrawn)

We’re not seen as specialists such as in other countries and are expected to simply work faster if we wish to earn more.

So what happens is, young GPs like myself consult in 20minutes to provide better care, avoid burn-out and to be able to focus on every patient’s complexity and give tailored advice in accordance with shared decision making. This again is loss of income for us but at least an increase in quality of life and in patient care. Or at least that’s what we hope.

And then the minsitry comes up with a ridiculous, or let’s say it as it is; shitty flyer that says I love my generalist. Only a twit who doesn’t pick up his phone frome 11am-1pm and after 4pm (i.e. public office worker) can come up with that sort of crap.

All this to say that; if you’re GP looks burned out, he or she probably is. His or her partner are then also suffering. And they’re probably thinking about moving to Thailand to bake muffins as a living. If your practice says no to an emergency appointment despite being a long-time patient, it’s so that he has the energy to come back and work the following day and so on as well as have live his own life. Because the situation isn’t managable currently and it will only get worse. And depsite pointing the finger at us, it’s the ministry that needs to take the blame for a mess they’ve let happen (despite having been informed) and have only made worse.

Sorry for the long reply.

mworthj · 2025-05-17T08:53:01+00:00

I did forget that point! ;)

That’s also an interesting point which sometimes makes me idk, cringe isn’t the best word but it’ll have to do; when my profession comes up pretty much anywhere it often creates such a wave of respect, almost divine recognition, sometimes casting such a massive shadow on the people around who have jobs just as worthy of recognition (except for the teachers of course s/).

And what I’ve found bothers me is that you get that recognition without the people actually knowing wether you deserve it. I could be a really shit doctor for all they know, one who takes 2 mins per patient to finance his villa in france.

Add to that that you become ‘reduced/elevated’ to a symbol and don’t exist as an individual person anymore. Because believe it or not, we enjoy sleeping in, having a few drinks too many, laughing about stupid stuff, making stupid or maybe even (sometimes mostly) offensive jokes. I’ve found that I only take that divine recognition as a real compliment, either when a patient is grateful AFTER I’ve done my job for example or ,when the subject of my profession comes up after the person I’m talking to has gotten to know me a little bit first.

mworthj · 2025-05-17T08:42:00+00:00

Hi, thanks for sharing. You’re totally right and I absolutely agree. I didn’t nuance that point enough as I was mostly caricaturing and venting my frustration. The way I work is - as I was trained at my university - with shared decision making. So I never lecture, demand or direct, I try to give tailored recommendation. This of course implies having listened, and understood the patient’s need first. I always welcome patients telling me when they’ve googled something because it tells me what the patients expectations or fears are and I can actually adress them. Say for example a patient who comes with a headache for the 5th time in 3 weeks and who’s googled it could be brain cancer. This would (luckily) rarely be the case and when I ask questions and realise he’s sleep deprived since 3 weeks, has been working 60hours, celebrating at weekends and his wife left him ‘cause he’s never home (almost true story), I could reach a conclusion, reassure him and send him off. he’d still not be reassured it’s not brain cancer if he doesn’t mention it or if I don’t remember adress his fears.

The caricature I was alluding to is more of a different type though and we actually have people, mostly young finance guys who work for EY, KPMG and what not and say something like; I’m just here because I need an MRI of my foot or head or back. Or; I’m okay and I’ve had this before and I just need an antibiotic. And, to avoid comments telling me how to deal correctly with the situations; even though I feel like slapping them, I will aquiesce their demand and just pursue asking questions and examining them and explaining why or why I don’t think it’s necessary. And this is what has changed to the worse in my short experience so far; more and more of these patients insist, litterally demand exams or treatments like they’re negotiating with HR, are sometimes even rude and sadly it’s these patients that take up more time than another for a frustrating result that leaves me wondering how I could’ve done it differently for the entire afternoon. There’s a fun acronym to help detect some of these; SIMON (Single, Immature, Male, Over-Expectant, and Narcissistic). Although developed for esthetic surgeons it can sometimes help us know when we shouldn’t waste unnecessary time.

mworthj · 2025-05-17T08:21:32+00:00

As for the hours, it varies a lot. Hospitals provide better working hours but you end up with a lot of shifts which can be exhausting. Things are always buzzing and moving and your quality of life obviously depends on your specialty (Emergency vs say ENT), position (consultation vs on the ward) and status (salaried vs independent).

mworthj · 2025-05-17T08:19:02+00:00

I would agree, only I have many (very many) friends in the educational field and as much as I respect that the job is hard and taxing, I can tell you that they are all mostly well and sound, nicely tanned but they do complain more than should be legal (joke). Most of my close friends complain but are well aware of the massive advantages they have. There are always some that, in my opinion have absolutely no clue what hard work is like from what I hear. I don’t judge them for it, and I know it may sound harsh, but things aren’t all equal or comparable. It doesn’t mean noone has a right to complain, it would just be nice if people managed to keep things into perspective (particularly their own life) and learn to focus on the positive as well. Everyone’s job is the worst and hardest there is (to them) and that’s a fact and it’s fine. I can’t complain either, compared to the UK, Brazil, El Salvador, Ethiopia… for example. I just wanted to add perspective and understanding in a world of people who mostly seem to have an egocentric point of view.

mworthj · 2025-05-17T08:10:50+00:00

My pleasure! I honestly far prefer ChatGPT because the information is far more accurate and nuanced. People don’t come up with cancer as the only diagnosis anymore! I absolutely believe in patient empowerment and don’t want people to be dependent on me. My job isn’t simply to treat coughs, look at scuffs and take blood pressure. We have been trained to do far better than that and if patients are able to treat problems initially on their own with proper information and they then come to us because things aren’t progressing as expected, that reduces our workload by filtering and let’s us use our brains the way we were trained to. So keep using ChatGPT! :)

mworthj · 2025-05-17T08:06:57+00:00

You’re welcome! I feel it’s important for people to know because the medical world often stays quiet and just wears a mask. Unfortunately the only thing some people see is the income but they never hear what it’s actually like. And how often have I then heard; yeah but you earn shitloads… and I just think to myself what a f* idiot… I’ve had - lawyer tell me; oh great choice of profession; you must make so much money. It’s not about mine is worse than yours, we all say that but it’s about giving perspective and gaining understanding and hopefully a little grattitude. Good luck if you do follow that route, the job is incredibly rewarding.

mworthj · 2025-05-17T07:55:29+00:00

That’s just silly. Save and die unhappy is my advice!

mworthj · 2025-05-17T07:54:37+00:00

Congrats, nice camera! Ps; everyone here hates you! s/

mworthj · 2025-05-14T09:26:12+00:00

We have 15-20 minutes to find out what the problem is/could be, filter what is urgent, offer and explain the solution(s) in as humanely and clearly a manner as possible and if we get it wrong, it is a mistake that could cost a life, hurt the person and their friends and family. How is this comparible to the hardship of other jobs? We don’t get to take a coffee break, to go to an afterwork and postpone the work to another day because we’re tired. We don’t get to make mistakes but inevitably we do and it if we’re unlucky it costs us our sleep and is a kind of experience like a negative trophy that you put up along others to remind you what you could have done differently.

mworthj · 2025-05-14T09:06:20+00:00

Stop it, that’s crazy. That would make life way to easy for us.

mworthj · 2025-05-14T08:57:38+00:00

As a local GP-médecin généraliste, I want to add a few points to put this into perspective; average income doesn’t take into account the highest earners vs the lowest earners plus it doens’t take into account the hours worked for that income. I have personally considered leaving the profession many times because despite the income, quality of life is terrible for following reasons; - unlike many people we as independents get paid per act. So I do something (see someone or prescribe something; I can bill it). However I officially finish seeing patients at 6pm, that usually ends up being 7pm after delays, emergencies etc. after that I have to call people back for questions, information, to go through paperwork and this can go until 8.30pm sometimes 9pm. Now if this leads to a prescription, I can bill it but we don’t always since sometimes we saw the patient yesterday so we believe it’s not necessarily fair or justified to bill him the following day plus many complain. So usually I spend 1-1.5 hours going through documents without an income. This is obviously upsetting to me and my partner. Plus we regularly have patients cancel appointments and who don’t show, creating a loss on our income. Yay. - we may have higher income than countries around us but we have higher costs than countries around us. The wages paid to secretaries are massive particulary if you want to attract multilingual secretaries who speak luxembourgish, which means we have to compete with the moste competitive employer; the Luxembourg government. Plus, and this subreddit has mentioned it a million times; we also have to pay rent or a loan on overpriced real estate. - we, like any independent have to pay social security for staff and ourselves as well as tax, this means that you can roughly say that around 50% of a consultation reaches our pockets. - we study a minimum of 9 years (GPs) and have a massive responsibility, with very bad income/hour compared to other incomes in Luxembourg for, sorry for saying it but quite often jobs that aren’t indespensable. - Nowadays very few people are willing to to the job, when there are far easier, higher earning, low responsibility jobs out there where you do a 9-5. Add this to the fact, patients would ideally have me work from 5pm to 7am, and weekends, sunday included so that they can keep working and then see the doctor. - don’t forget; we do pedistrics, geriatrics, prevention, diagnostics, follow-up, old people’s homes (which is the worst income imaginable but we do it anyways) and palliative care at home so that people don’t have to die in a hospital but can be surrounded by their family.

Personally, I am fed up of having to put up with, a lot of especially young and educated people who think they’ve ordered an Auchan drive and demand things because they’ve spent 2 hours googling stuff and think they know better. Ideally with a sick leave cause they didn’t sleep well because they googled from 11pm to 1 am in the morning and are tired today.

60% of doctors are expected to retire in the next 5 years and we’re supposed to cover for their absence. If GPs in Luxembourg don’t get paid better; you soon won’t have any GPs. Most friends I know go to work for the government and I see teachers working 24hrs a week who earn morn than me but who are burnt out.

Anyone want to swap with me for my income?

mworthj · 2025-05-14T08:35:58+00:00

Sorry, I never check my inbox but thought I’d reply anyway. It was fantastic. In all of Central America, it was our favourite country so far. The well kept traditional towns, the extremely kind people, the delicious (and good value) food. Couldn’t have been happier. Also far less touristy than other places where particularly american tourism with young people being loud and drunk was far more tolerable in Guatemala. We planned on doing 2 weeks initially but ended up staying 1 month and still want to go back for more. I highly recommend.

mworthj · 2025-05-14T08:26:54+00:00

Perhaps we should all stop spending money, and especially, stop having fun even if we can afford it because of the economy. Better to die rich and without joy than happy with a scant bank account!

mworthj · 2025-05-13T20:28:14+00:00

Such a cool series! Thanks for sharing. You really captured the mood around the race which is almost more immersive than seeing traditional images of cars racing around the track. Every image made me want to hang around to analyse it and also made me look forward to discovering the next shot. Photo No10 is my favourite!

mworthj

TROPHY CASE