<p>tokenadult, you are arguing in a box of your own making and trying to lure others in there with you. (But it's a very nice box. And you may be right. ;)) You want to confine/frame the argument in terms of America's need for doctors based on what some other country does with their medical care delivery system. </p>
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Gas consumption is higher here and I'll bet electricity , styrofoam , and maybe Bible and porno consumption per capita is, too. All are interesting observations of some interesting priorities but none of those observations answer or even speak to the supply and demand question. Just the demand side. LOL. </p>
<p>You are as such arguing that our appetite for doctors is too "high" and attempt to quantify that by showing how they do it in France. Some would disagree with your basic premise (and don't care how they do it in France) and refuse to climb into the box with you. </p>
<p>Market forces determine demand, not what "should be" the market forces. Everything I have seen about the graying of America and our ever-increasing per capita consumption of healthcare shows a continuing need for additional doctors in the forseeable future to deal with that aging population (and our national obsession with quick fixes).</p>