Medical Student Loan Defaults

Medicine is an honorable profession. Young physicians in training are physically, emotionally, financially and intellectually challenged during the most productive years of their life. Yet not a day goes by when the media, laymen or other so-called professionals (lawyers) do not participate in “doctor bashing.” In reference to “Doctors, Others in Loan Defaults Listed” (Aug. 31), I have three questions:

Why were only health professionals identified? According to a recent article you published, trade schools across the country lead the pack among defaulters. Where is the list of truckers, cosmetologists, not to mention other business persons, lawyers, scientists, etc.?

Why didn’t the article include information about how some loans are sold multiple times to different lenders (I have one that was sold five times and took me a year to trace) and how impossible it is to locate them, especially if you change your address? Sometimes you can only trace them down after they show up as missed payments on your credit report.

Why does the government have momentum and support to access people who broke their side of the contractual agreement when we do not have any recourse against the government after it broke its side of the same agreement? You see, when I signed on the dotted line for my $45,000 in student loans, repayment was scheduled to begin after completion of residency (specialty training). However, in 1990, the government reneged on this agreement and now requires payment to begin two years after completion of medical school. Most people are still being overworked and underpaid in their residency at that point and cannot possibly afford monthly payments that are sometimes more than their monthly paycheck. The government obviously doesn’t like the taste of its own medicine.

MARY K. OATES MD

Seal Beach