BEASTLY TALES

PATIENCE FOR PATIENTS

Patients in the waiting room,
Sit and sit, in dismal gloom.
Awaiting appointment for 10 o’clock,
It was 11:30 the last time you took stock.
(Try being late yourself and see the reaction,
If looks were physical you’d be in traction).
An enquiry to the Receptionist,
“Does my appointment still exist?”
“The Doctor is attending an emergency”.
A euphemism for having morning tea!

Patients are so very, very patient,
As they wait,

and wait,

and wait.
Hoping the doctor may see them before it’s too late.
One theory is, to fill no-show gaps,
Schedules are over-booked with compliant saps.
Who sit and sit and sit and sit,
And make out they don’t mind one bit.
A “practice” is a physicians calling,
(The thought “practice makes perfect” is sometimes appalling),
Physicians like to take great ease,
As they readily rake-in their fees.
To be able to get a medical appointment,
Be prepared to wait weeks in disappointment.
A “second opinion” could be elevating,
But then it would mean more waiting room waiting.
Some doctors seem somewhat loath,
To fully respect the Hippocratic Oath.
If you were to cite “Dr. Finlay’s casebook”,*
Doctors will give you a nasty face look.
Doctor Finlay was oft. out calling,
In country Britain in weather appalling.
Always cheerful and willing to help.
“House Call?” No problem, but today’s doctors yelp.
In fact most doctors flatly decline,
To set foot out of doors to medically opine.

If they cannot diagnose a specific condition,
Rather than consult a brother physician,
Their diagnostic conclusion is often a “VIRUS”,
A generalized term that would require us,
To follow not a specific therapy course,
But to hope the condition will not get any worse.
So what nice things can be said about quacks?
They look out for themselves and watch their backs.
But in spite of all the above,
They sometimes may help someone we love!

*Dr. Finlay’s Casebook was an early T.V. show featuring
a caring house calling Doctor in rural Britain.