Minority applications buck trend
While the overall number of applicants to U.S. medical schools dropped for the fourth straight year, the number of underrepresented minority applicants increased for the first time since 1996.
Medical schools received applications from 37,137 students for the 2000-2001 school year, a 3.6% decline from the previous year. But the number of underrepresented minority applicants increased 1.9% to 4,267 this year, according to the Assn. of American Medical Colleges.
Less than half the students who apply are accepted.
"There are a lot of opportunities open to college graduates that are competing with medicine as a career choice," said Jordan Cohen, MD, AAMC president. "Whatever choices students make, medicine remains an extremely attractive field for lifestyle and material rewards."
Experts say the decline in applicants can be explained by a variety of factors, including growing administrative oversight and declining reimbursement by government and private payers.
Overall, 19,842 men applied to medical school in 2000, a drop of almost 6%. The number of underrepresented minority male applicants increased 4%. The number of women applying to medical school declined slightly to 17,295 this year from 17,433 in 1999. The number of underrepresented minority female applicants increased 0.5% to 2,571.
Kansas court rules that naturopaths can't prescribe
The Kansas Supreme Court has ruled that naturopaths cannot prescribe or administer drugs without an order from a licensed physician.
According to the state's top court, Stanley Beyrle, ND, of Wichita, intravenously administered vitamins B-12, B-complex and C, which are prescription-only when given IV. Dr. Beyrle's treatment of the patient, who had a brain tumor, included shark cartilage enemas and spinal manipulation.
After receiving several complaints, the Kansas State Board of Healing Arts took Dr. Beyrle to court for practicing medicine without a license. In its decision, the state Supreme Court upheld a lower court ruling that the naturopath had violated state law regulating the medical profession.
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Copyright 2000 American Medical Association. All rights reserved.
