Comment Understandable, maybe. (Score 1) 567
It would be insane to remove *all* organic chemistry from the pre-medical required set of courses. I could, however, see why one would question the second half of the year-long course. I'm pretty sure no MD or student will ever need to run into a chemistry lab and synthesize X organic compound (an MD/PhD, maybe, but they're a rare breed).
The value in that second course, however, lies in the understanding of how certain functional groups behave. A medical student WILL need this information to fully grasp how, for example, beta-lactam inhibitors like clavulanic acid can widen the spectrum of other antibiotics like amoxicillin. Or in the future, perhaps understand more specific theories on how free radicals can play a role in diseases like Parkinson's or Alzheimer's.
Perhaps a single, more intensive course could be designed. I can't imagine many chemistry departments jumping to the task, though.
Difficulty aside, would it hurt for a future MD to learn to appreciate the art of organic synthesis - if only just as a single element in what will be his or her vast scientific repertoire?