Tuesday, September 19, 2006

Of good docs and bad docs

Nothing has been really happening, so haven't updated the posts for a while. But there was some progress in the sense that I did get my plastic surgeon to arrange for a qualified professional to inject the T.
My endocrinologist is extremely professional. By that I mean that he has just prescribed me the T shots without any timeline and asked me not to visit him again. He said he would be glad to consult on email. How tech savvy and considerate of him!
So though I'm not very happy with the way he dealt with me, I'm not complaining given the lack of lack of specialisists as qualified as him and as sensitised as him towards our community. And also because it saves me Rs 500 per visit. But that got me thinking about doctors and how good or bad they are...and how they affect their patients.
Had my plastic surgeon not come to my rescue, I would still be hunting for someone to inject me with the magic potion with a synringe and a vial in my hand...Having played her part in the transition, technically it is not her business to help me with the T, but being the good soul that she is, she did. In fact, she even offered to supervise the first shot, however that's not possible because our timings do not match. But when I went to meet her to talk about this she charged me Rs 150 for nothing. So much for being the good doc.
On the other hand, the endocrinologist who declined to do anything else for me other than prescribe the drug, did not charge me anything during my last visit. But he also clearly showed that he did not actually care about me. He didn't guide on the precautions, the diet, or draw a plan on how to advance with my treatment. It was like he just dropped me of like a hot potato.
But whereas my plastic surgeon almost always charges me for every visit, even if it is to have a chat, she advises me on my diet, my exercise, likes to monitor my weight and other things. So does that make her a good doc?
So who is a good doc? Someone who cares for a patient but pinches their pockets? or someone who does neither charges money nor cares for a patient? Personally, I prefer the former, because even though for a price, one still gets the required care. After all, there are no free lunches in life!