Wait Till It’s My Turn

May 25th, 2004

In preparation for my upcoming trip to Thailand and India, I had a doctor’s appointment today with a travel doctor. I made my appointment for 12 noon, so that I’d have plenty of time for the appointment and then to make it to my 1pm class.

But did I make it? No…of course not. Stupid goddamn doctor (like ALL doctors) showed up not 15 minutes, not half an hour, not 45 minutes, but an entire hour late! He showed up at 1pm for our 30 minute appointment.

After all the nonsense we’ve been fed this past year in school about respecting your patients opinions and valueing their time as much as yours, I have yet to see a doctor do either. That’s why almost all us med students do not take any of those “Professionalism” courses in school seriously.

I so want to return the “favor” to my patients once I’m in practice. People keep saying it’s wrong to perpetuate this lousy behavior and practice, but forget that. As a patient I’ve suffered enough through many doctors’ arrogance. I’m keeping my patients in the waiting room for as long as it takes, until I’m ready to see them.

Don’t think I took this all sitting down…I had to get a few vaccines, and the punk made me go to the receptionist’s window and pay first (out of pocket, by the way, since insurance doesn’t cover preventive travel medicine…ha, wait till I get malaria, then they’ll shell out 100X the money to keep me alive!), and only then could I get my vaccines. Little did he know that I went out, walked around in circles a few times, and walked right back into his office without having paid. Screw him.

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