You have a point but it is not that clear cut. "Regular working stiffs" do not have any of the costs or risks of setting up a business. What is worse for physicians compared to all other professionals is that they run a business with all of the costs and risks but have absolutely no power to set price. What do you do when the government unilaterally cuts your fees while your staff ask you for a raise, your landlord wants to increase the rent for the lease space, the software company increases the monthly charge for your electronic medical record system , the insurance company, the two different medical associations, your accountant, your lawyer and everyone else you pay expenses to all raise their fees . Then the federal government comes along and says they will increase your tax load on top of it.