Читать книгу How to be Your Doctor’s Favorite Patient - David Claytor - Страница 9

“Thanks for not keeping me waiting, Dr. Hadley,” said the silver-haired gentleman seated in Exam Room 2, Mr. Alex Farmington. Sizing up her patient, Dr. Bernadette Hadley spied a tall, handsome man who was impeccably dressed from his gray silk Armani suit with dark blue Gregoria tie down to his custom-made black leather loafers.

“I’ve got a flight to New York in two hours,” he said. “I think both of us know the importance of keeping on schedule.”

“You probably do a better job of that than I do, I’m afraid,” said Dr. Hadley, “but since you’re the first patient on my schedule today, I don’t have any excuse not to be on time.”

Their conversation was interrupted by a series of high-pitched beeps. Dr. Hadley looked at her right hip, but her cell phone was silent.

“It’s mine–the office,” said Mr. Farmington. “Would you excuse me for just a moment?” he asked as he was already dialing. “Terry!” he shouted into the receiver. “Hold my calls til I get to the airport. I’ll have to call them back on the flight.” Turning to Dr. Hadley, he said, “Sorry. Back to the business at hand. I’m feeling great, but I’m due for a check-up. Sort of like my old Rolls-Royce—in perfect condition, but still in need of a tune-up now and then.”

“Are there any particular things you’re concerned about that you’d like to have checked?”

“Do it all—whatever needs to be done. Don’t worry about the expense, of course.”

“Fine. I’ll do a physical, and then some tests, but there’s really not a lot that needs to be done for the typical patient of your age who’s feeling well.”

“Excuse me, doctor, but I’m not your ‘typical’ patient.”

“My ‘typical’ patients aren’t rich snobs,” she thought, but said, “Yes, of course. Everyone has unique needs.”

He seemed disappointed when at the end of the physical all she recommended was to check his cholesterol. “You had an extensive blood profile, ECG, and colonoscopy last year, all of which were normal, so there’s really no point in repeating those things already.”

“The colonoscopy I can do without, but as long as you’re drawing blood, I’d like to have everything checked. I want all the bases covered.”

“But…” she began.

“Just do it.”

She gave in. “Okay. It’s your money, or at least your insurer’s money,” she said, as she walked away feeling like one of his employees.

America is a society in which all of us are equal but everybody wants special treatment. Likewise, American medicine ostensibly tries to treat everyone the same based on their medical condition and not their pocketbooks–but fails. Even in countries like Britain which have socialized medicine, the rich are still able to purchase additional, specialized care.

When I was in training, there was even a special floor of the hospital where the well-heeled sick could recuperate with the aid of not only the nursing staff, but their own gourmet chef as well. Even though they paid extra for their privileges, this still seemed a little unfair to the rest of the patients who had to choke down their daily ration of broth and gelatin.

Rich people can be good patients, and there certainly are some doctors who cater to them: you can charge them more and expect to be paid. But there are limits to what your physician can do, no matter how much money you throw at her. Disease and death can only be bribed, not bought off altogether.

 Do realize that a champagne-and-caviar lifestyle may be a sign of privilege, but not of good health.

 Don’t expect that your treatment will necessarily be any different than anyone else’s with the same condition, regardless of income.

 Do realize that money can’t buy happiness, love, or good health.