* * Anonymous Doc: "Young and Rich"

Tuesday, April 9, 2013

"Young and Rich"

"So, Mrs. Patient, it was great to meet you, and I'll see you in six weeks for a follow-up... and hopefully everything is stable until then."

"It was nice to meet you too, doctor.  Oh, how I wish I was young and rich."

"I wish I was young and rich too."

"You are!"

"Medical school is expensive."

"You're a doctor.  I bet you make a million dollars a year."

"I'm a fellow.  I make a lot less than a million dollars a year.  And even after fellowship, I will make a lot less than a million dollars a year.  I'm not complaining, but, a million dollars, that's not what's going on here in the clinic for anyone."

"My cataract surgeon told me he makes a million dollars a year."

"Your cataract surgeon sounds awesome."

"No, he is great.  I can see now."

"I'm glad.  I'll see you in six weeks."

"You will be making a million dollars by then."

"I don't think so, but thanks."

"No, I will send you my friends."

"I appreciate it."

"They have good insurance."

"That's great."

"No, really.  Better than mine.  No co-pay."

"I'm glad.  I'll see you soon."

"Wait-- you know I have co-pay, right?  I have to tell you-- I can't pay my co-pay.  You can send me bill, and I will try to pay it, but I can't.  You still see me?"

"I really don't deal with the billing.  I'm just a fellow.  I see whoever shows up in my office, I promise."

"So you still see me?"

"I have no idea what the clinic does when people don't pay their co-pay, honestly.  If they let you in my office, I will see you, I promise."

"Yes!  Now I definitely send you all of my friends."

"Great.  Thanks."

4 comments:

  1. Adorable! I've been reading for quite a while (years? have you been blogging that long yet?) and always enjoy the stories.

    Do all doctors have stories this interesting? Or is it just because (for the time being?) you're working in a clinic, so you see more than your share of the societally marginal?

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    Replies
    1. You think interesting stories only come from the "societally marginal?"

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    2. I don't know about "only", but it seems to me the most outlandish stories here on AnonDoc involve people that sound to me to be societally marginal.

      Are you The Anonymous Doctor, or just some other Anonymous dropin? If the former, let me just reiterate, I really appreciate this blog.

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