Iwokeup
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So I had a very interesting conversation with a patient yesterday. He'd come in for abdominal pain and given his history got a very thorough workup. Which was completely negative (as I had thought that it would be). I went in to explain it to him and he was.not.having.it.
Wanted "more tests" because he was "sure that you're missing something." You know, because that time years ago where he went to the hospital "ten times in a row" and on the tenth visit they found something wrong with him.
I replied that, "Well sir, the human body is a strange beast. You can be fine today but may develop problems later." We'd love to see you back if things change or get worse, etc. The usual. Then the conversation went off the deep end...
I said something along the lines of, "I don't get that you trust what I'm telling you right now."
Him: "No, I don't! You doctors don't care about me, only you're money."
Me: "Uhhh, not true. And I don't see how that changes what we're talking about today."
Him: "You just want to make me come back again and again until you 'finally' figure out what's going on. That way you can charge me more."
Me [dumbfounded]: "Sir, this is not a conspiracy to charge you more. And besides, I've grown up really poor so I understand the financial implications of an Emergency Room visit. I most definitely don't want to waste you're time or money."
Him: "Don't lie to me, doc. You weren't ever poor, you don't understand, and you never will."
Me: "Okay sir. One last question: do you have insurance? I want to make sure that you can actually pay for whichever medicine I prescribe for you."
Him: "See? All you care about is money!!"
Me: "Have a nice day, sir. Goodbye."
===========================
Anyway, it's early so I'm not sure what it really means. But definitely the first time that someone assumed that because I'm a physician that the only thing that I care about is money, to my face.
Wanted "more tests" because he was "sure that you're missing something." You know, because that time years ago where he went to the hospital "ten times in a row" and on the tenth visit they found something wrong with him.
I replied that, "Well sir, the human body is a strange beast. You can be fine today but may develop problems later." We'd love to see you back if things change or get worse, etc. The usual. Then the conversation went off the deep end...
I said something along the lines of, "I don't get that you trust what I'm telling you right now."
Him: "No, I don't! You doctors don't care about me, only you're money."
Me: "Uhhh, not true. And I don't see how that changes what we're talking about today."
Him: "You just want to make me come back again and again until you 'finally' figure out what's going on. That way you can charge me more."
Me [dumbfounded]: "Sir, this is not a conspiracy to charge you more. And besides, I've grown up really poor so I understand the financial implications of an Emergency Room visit. I most definitely don't want to waste you're time or money."
Him: "Don't lie to me, doc. You weren't ever poor, you don't understand, and you never will."
Me: "Okay sir. One last question: do you have insurance? I want to make sure that you can actually pay for whichever medicine I prescribe for you."
Him: "See? All you care about is money!!"
Me: "Have a nice day, sir. Goodbye."
===========================
Anyway, it's early so I'm not sure what it really means. But definitely the first time that someone assumed that because I'm a physician that the only thing that I care about is money, to my face.
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