Mature students work for fewer years

Editor -I read Peter Cross's article on age and selection of medical students with great delight.¹ The number of years a doctor will work once trained, however, was not discussed. Shortages of doctors are a serious global issue. Large amounts of tax money are invested in training doctors. Selecting students in their 40s and 50s inevitably means that these doctors will not be able to work as long as ones trained in their early 20s.

1. Cross P. Does age matter? studentBMJ 2004:12:38. (January.)