Scientists, doctors, lawyers

[Bhakti Vikasa Swami]

Prabhupada: Whatever you want to become, the basic principle is sense
gratification. Either you become scientist or doctor or engineer, the main
thing is, "Bring money." That's all.

Svarupa Damodara: Some doctors think that they are doing humanitarian work.

Prabhupada: Yes, so long he will pay. That's all. "Hospital." In your country
especially. "Hospital" means "to receive." But there also you pay, then it is
hospital. Otherwise, "Get out"; it is no longer hospital.

Svarupa Damodara: I find doctors are most rascals here. They are greatest
demons.

Prabhupada: Why not the scientists?

Svarupa Damodara: I think scientists are better than doctors.

Prabhupada: Better rascal. [laughter] Scientists are better rascal. [laughing]

Karandhara: Well, doctors are simply out for money.

Svarupa Damodara: Oh, it is terrible. They don't think about anything else.
They just think about money.

Prabhupada: They have been taught like that.

Svarupa Damodara: If the patient doesn't bring money, he won't give injection.

Prabhupada: So the lawyers and everyone. Especially in your country..., this
country. Because they require money, so they must have money some way or other.
That is the prime principle. They require money. That's all.

Karandhara: They charge outrageous fees -- $60 an hour, $70 an hour, $5,000 for
a little operation. Some doctors, they simply try to make operations so they
can get rich. Whenever you come to see them, they say, "You need an operation."

Prabhupada: Yes.

Locana: And they keep their telephone numbers secret so that on Sunday their
patients may not disturb their sense gratification with their medical
difficulties.

Svarupa Damodara: It is a very big business here, Srila Prabhupada, medical
profession. They have this American Medical Association. They control the whole
business. Even government cannot interfere. So they choose students, and they
keep the supply so low that the demand is always high. That is why the price
always increases. It's terrible.

Karandhara: To stay in a hospital now costs about $150 a day.

Prabhupada: Huh?

Karandhara: To stay in a hospital costs about $100 or $150 a day.

Prabhupada: That is a sort of punishment of sinful activities. When you fall
sick, it is due to sinful activity. So you are punished.

Karandhara: It's a very high price.

Rupanuga: Pay fine.

Prabhupada: Yes. The more the dangerous is the disease, you have to pay more.
[break]

Karandhara: ...very mercenary, hospitals.

Prabhupada: Everywhere mercenary. Lawyers...

Karandhara: The hospital across the street from our temple, if you go there
with an emergency, they say, "First give us money. No money, go away." No
matter how serious the injury. "First give us money."

Svarupa Damodara: They have no human quality, these doctors.

Karandhara: We have brought devotees there sometimes with serious wounds or
injuries, and they just say, "First you give us money or else go away. We don't
care."

Prabhupada: Everywhere.

(Morning Walk – December 17, 1973, Los Angeles)