I had some bad gastric issues a while back, and the CT scan found unrelated stuff, including a bladder stone. I procrastinated for a while and then told myself that it wasn't gonna get any smaller and I wasn't gonna get any younger, so I went in and had it removed. I've known folks around here who have gotten (or who need) joint replacements, and I tell them to do it sooner rather than later, because at some point--as you said--the risk outweighs the benefit. I have a friend right now (mid 70s) who is in that spot...her bad knee has only gotten worse, and there is now debate as to whether or not they want to subject her to the surgery at her current age. The problem with having choices is you gotta make a decision.
Back to the original topic. Pre-med students have always had a bad reputation. They are extremely competitive. Remember The Paper Chase, with John Houseman? They have to have a near 4.0 GPA to even get into medical school, so you can't really blame them. I took an organic chemistry class once. Big mistake. Found out later It was a majority pre-med students. The course was designed partly to weed out the weaker pre-med students. I nearly failed that course. So it doesn't surprise me that the process of becoming a physician tends to select for a certain personality type. Not all, but many. Most probably grow out of it when they get into practice.
Paper Chase was a law school, I believe, but it was an excellent series, and I expect the requirements were very similar.
I just ran across this very short but applicable video. I do wonder how close we are to the time when triage is deciding who gets what depending on whom they are and how useful to society they are?
I think almost anyone can become a lawyer if they have the funds and desire. Look at those in Congress and the bureaucracy. Most are not geniuses by any stretch. Becoming a GOOD lawyer is another thing; only a few can become a good attorney. Doctors are a bit different. You once had to be a well-rounded individual with high intelligence even to get into med school. Those who didn't quite make the grade became DOs. I don't know if that is still the case or not. Now there is so much emphasis on drug therapy that the emphasis on "well-rounded" seems to have disappeared in favor of pure scientific knowledge. Also, I have found that the doctors most loved by their patients and who have the best bedside manner are not generally the best and brightest docs, and some are outright quacks.