Karl Marx and Friedrich Engels predicted the proletarian revolution, which didn't occur, but their insights about capitalism's impact on society remain relevant. A recent article notes that the medical field in the U.S. has shifted significantly towards corporate control over the last decade. The percentage of physician-owned practices dropped from 60% in 2012 to 52.1% in 2022, with 21.8% employed by other corporate entities. This consolidation has led to changes in the practice of medicine, higher prices, reduced access, and worse health outcomes.

Private equity firms have acquired a significant portion of medical care, with over 25% of physicians in many metropolitan areas being owned by a single private equity firm. This shift has been accompanied by higher prices and reduced quality of care. Hospital consolidation and private equity influence have also impacted the work of physicians, affecting their ability to provide quality care.

Due to these changes, more physicians are turning to unions for representation. While only 5.9% of physicians are currently unionized, there has been a significant increase in union membership among doctors in recent years. The surge in unionization among doctors started after the COVID pandemic, which exposed grueling working conditions and increased control by investors, corporations, and insurance companies. Younger doctors are particularly interested in forming unions to address issues like long hours, low wages, high debt, and lack of control over their work environment.

Unionization efforts have generally succeeded among doctors, as they can't be easily replaced like some other workers. However, hospitals and medical groups often oppose these efforts. The unionization focus has primarily been on interns and residents, but representation is a key goal for these unions. Doctors hope that unions can provide them with a voice in decision-making processes, improve patient care, and address moral concerns arising from reduced patient interaction due to corporate control.

Overall, while Marx and Engels's specific predictions didn't come true, their analysis of capitalism's effects on society and the workforce still holds relevance today, as seen in the changing landscape of the medical profession.