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Most of my colleagues get pissed off when I point out that MDs belong to a
guild and that medical school is as much an apprenticeship to join the
guild as it is training to reach certain knowledge and performance
standards. The AMA call itself an "Association", the Writers' and
Directors' Guilds are perhaps more honest. But almost all professional
organizations start out with one premise:

How can we keep others from stealing our business? Let's limit the use of
our organizational name/letters after their names to our paying and
buddies. Oh yeah and we'll "grandfather" in some real talent/famous names
to make it look like our club didn't just leap out of nowhere.

God knows, it's easy to become a multi-card carrying sport diver. That's
the business. To become a nitrox blending, tri-mix breathing, pony
spanking, monkey petting (hate horses, love primates) instructor takes (1)
knowing and paying a Someone (2) who thinks you won't be too much
competition and (3) won't disgrace the guild in public - more often than
they do. That's the guild. The last part is where public safety comes in.
Only if your the KKK is it in your guild's interest to be associated with
fear, loathing and messy public deaths. It sounds professional to espouse
motherhood, the flag, apple-pie and road safety. The AMA could care
less about doctor-assisted suicide, except it might make all doctors look
like murderers - that would be bad for the guild. Never mind the folks who
are genuinely in pain. The dive agencies are wracked by the paradox that
they want to train every last biped (cognitive or otherwise) to leap from
boats into the water and leave their wallets on shore. They would also
like *most* of the said suckers to return to their loved ones, if only
because you get more money from a live sucker than a dead one.

So why are PADI, NAUI, SSI, PSA etc. any different from any other guild?
Whatcha expect? Philanthropy? Physiology?

P Heseltine, MB, BCh, BAO, FACP, FIDSA, PADI, PSA, *RUBE* etc etc etc

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