The Hypocritical Oath
A 72 year old friend of mine has been suffering from back pain and sciatica for the past few days. When it got too bad for her to move around, she asked me to drive her to the doctor. I dropped her off, popped into the office, and then picked her up again when she was done. I wish I'd stayed.
This doctor, who operates out of his sprawling mansion, didn't even look at her leg or back. He informs her that she's just got a little touch of old age, hands her an envelope with huge unmarked white pills, and writes her a prescription. Not even a pharmacist could identify the pills or say what they were for. The prescription? Its for vitamins. Ten days' worth.
That'll be $100 please. Thank you Ma'am.
First off, Doc, this lady is a pensioner, and that kind of money represents a huge chunk of her income. I don't even want to think of what she has to go without since she's paid you. Second, when a patient comes to you in pain, you damn well should examine her - and TRY TO HELP! Third, isn't it a legal requirement that all pills prescribed to a patient should be clearly labelled, and that patient should be told what they are, what they're for, and what sort of risks they pose? For all we know, that shit could be horse medicine. Oh, and you gave her a shot in the ass, but wouldn't tell her what it was. Saline?
Then there's those vitamins. You don't have to go to med school to know that 10 days worth of vitamins couldn't possibly have any effect on the body, much less improve leg and back pain.
So, wassup, doc? Is that that you're so busy that you don't think it's worth the effort to explain yourself to a little old lady? Or is it that you're so smart that you think anyone who doesn't have the letters MD after their name is just too stupid for an explanation?
Where do you get off treating an old woman like that? You treated her like a fool, and she left your office still in pain, bewildered and humiliated. She called you back, and you say "Well, I don't know what to tell you, but you can come back in if you like". Bam, another hundred bucks. Thank you Ma'am.
Didn't see that in the Hippocratic Oath.
This doctor, who operates out of his sprawling mansion, didn't even look at her leg or back. He informs her that she's just got a little touch of old age, hands her an envelope with huge unmarked white pills, and writes her a prescription. Not even a pharmacist could identify the pills or say what they were for. The prescription? Its for vitamins. Ten days' worth.
That'll be $100 please. Thank you Ma'am.
First off, Doc, this lady is a pensioner, and that kind of money represents a huge chunk of her income. I don't even want to think of what she has to go without since she's paid you. Second, when a patient comes to you in pain, you damn well should examine her - and TRY TO HELP! Third, isn't it a legal requirement that all pills prescribed to a patient should be clearly labelled, and that patient should be told what they are, what they're for, and what sort of risks they pose? For all we know, that shit could be horse medicine. Oh, and you gave her a shot in the ass, but wouldn't tell her what it was. Saline?
Then there's those vitamins. You don't have to go to med school to know that 10 days worth of vitamins couldn't possibly have any effect on the body, much less improve leg and back pain.
So, wassup, doc? Is that that you're so busy that you don't think it's worth the effort to explain yourself to a little old lady? Or is it that you're so smart that you think anyone who doesn't have the letters MD after their name is just too stupid for an explanation?
Where do you get off treating an old woman like that? You treated her like a fool, and she left your office still in pain, bewildered and humiliated. She called you back, and you say "Well, I don't know what to tell you, but you can come back in if you like". Bam, another hundred bucks. Thank you Ma'am.
Didn't see that in the Hippocratic Oath.
posted by Roslyn | 11:45 AM
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