Does it take too long to become a doctor?

To the Editor: We read with interest McNamara’s pieces on the length of Australian medical training.1,2 The current training system is more a crude result of historical evolution than the outcome of a strong evidence base. The extra time taken by Australian doctors to become competent at a procedure is likely mirrored in other areas of medical knowledge and skill because of both internal (doctor) factors including learning attributes and interests, and external (environmental) factors, such as supervisor guidance and “chance” clinical experiences.