> Do your professors talk about the state of healthcare in the USA / share their opinions with you?
Yes, especially healthcare reform. As you can imagine, it's a game-changer and there is significant discussion on how they will be impacted. I think the general conclusion I've gotten is that the situation is still very fluid, and most people in medicine are as confused/uncertain of its effect as most laypoeple.
> Could you estimate in rough percentages, if at all: Of your peers in medical school, how many of them are interested in becoming a doctor for purely altruistic reasons?
I think there are a variety of factors and influences that cause an individual to want to become a doctor and most medical students aren’t seeking to become martyrs (ie. not purely altruistic). It would be just as simplistic as to say Facebook was founded solely because Zuckerberg wanted create something. While the ability to help people is important factor, the amazing complexity and beauty of the human body, the opportunity to work in a constantly changing, dynamic environment, the ability to apply science, and the respectability of the profession are also motivators. I would say, in many ways and to most med students, these factors outweigh the financial rewards (if that's what you meant by non-altruistic reasons).
> How many defaulted to med school because it is something appropriate for intelligent people and pleases their parents?
I think that is an incredibly difficult question to answer, but I will try to rationalize my non-answer. It is slightly difficult (no exaggeration :P) to get into medical school – if a person is not motivated or passionate, it is difficult to simply default into medical school. That said, this question goes back to the previous question about motives and incentives. I would say a significant proportion of my classmates have a significant experience with physicians – either as a patient or having relatives who are physicians. Whether having physician parents and that it might “please their parents” is an important factor, I wouldn’t know as I did not have that kind of background.
I personally do not think that “defaulting” is a common occurrence because at my school, there is a large proportion of non-traditional applicants who have had previous careers. With classmates ranging from former investment bankers, Olympic swimmers, opera singers, and park rangers, I imagine they methodically thought about the opportunity cost of changing careers. Too bad we don’t have many former developers. :) For better or worse, medicine is a desirable profession, and I would venture to guess that a lot of people will at least try or consider a career in medicine. Without then actually developing passion or interest, medicine is a tough path to continue.