sometimes work presents us with situations that really let us screw with people who are asshats....
Posted by
dogbert
Jul 3 '10, 15:41
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my doc today walks up to me and hands me a chart after walking into a new patients room and says "she refuses to see me, she wants a white doctor." after the obvious statement of disbelief from me she says "her exact words were 'I want a white doctor'".
this wasn't my patient, but since I was in such disbelief I had to jump in for the other nurse (she is also a bit new and admitted she had no idea what to say or do). I walked in the room and this was the conversation to the best of my recolection:
me: hi, is there a problem?
patient: I don't want her as my doctor. I want a white doctor. an asian person is ok I guess, but I want someone white. I don't want a middle eastern doctor (the doctor isn't middle eastern, but she didn't need to know this yet).
me: ok, we can't force you to be seen by any doctor. you have to right to refuse any medical treatment. so, just to be clear, you will only be seen by a white, or asian doctor? any others you don't want to be seen by?
pt: yes.
me: ok, just give me a few moments.
I go to the desk and get a left without being seen sheet. anyone who leaves without being seen by a doctor needs this for their chart. I go back in the room with my tech and hand it to the patient.
me: this is our left without being seen form, if you could sign it we can get you on your way.
pt: I didn't say I won't be seen.
me: we assigned you a doctor and you refused them, which again is your right, and then said who you would see, unfortunately there is noone here right now that meets your criteria.
pt: (starting to get mad) you're saying there isn't a white doctor anywhere in this hospital?
me: not at all. I'm saying there isn't a doctor in the ER right now that is "white" (I used air quotes)
pt: I don't believe you
me: that doesn't surprise me, but it doesn't make it any less true. right now we have one doctor that is iraqi, one from india and I'm not even going to take a chance on offending you by bringing in our other doctor.... he's black! (I emphasized this as much as I could to make it sound scary)
pt: (fuming) fine, send in the indian doctor then.
me: I can't you already refused her. your dislike of certain races seems to cloud your knowledge of where they are from.
pt: (tears up the paper) I'm not signing this! I can't believe you're kicking me out.
me: I'm not kicking you out at all, if you want to change your mind about the race of doctors you wish to see, I could probably help you, but I legally can't do something that you refuse.
pt: I still won't sign that (pointing at floor). I'm going to call my lawyer!
me: that's ok, you don't have to sign it, I have a witness here to our conversation (pointing to my tech) and there are about eight people that I can see in the hallway that will also witness our conversation.
pt: I can't believe you're kicking me out!
me: I'm not ma'am. you are the one making these choices. would it be ok to get our doctor who happens to be black to come and see you?
pt: go to hell! (at this point she leaves)
it was so worth writing up the incident report for that one
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Responses:
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you're my friggin hero - Well done! -- nm
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Diva
Jul 4, 05:01
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*standing ovation* -- nm
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loosilu
Jul 3, 20:03
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fantastic. -- nm
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kelly
Jul 3, 18:57
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That's top notch -- nm
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Karl_S
Jul 3, 18:31
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Great job! -- nm
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jnine
Jul 3, 17:42
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dogbert doesn't bring home work stories often, but they are always gems. -- nm
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TFox
Jul 3, 17:37
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312,500,000 Spawn Points -- nm
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Black Rabbit
Jul 3, 17:19
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My hero! -- nm
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David
Jul 3, 16:54
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bravo -- nm
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prayformojo
Jul 3, 16:42
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*applauds*
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Stephen (Status Seeker)
Jul 3, 16:39
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What was she there for? -- nm
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James Bond (aka Igor)
Jul 3, 16:33
1
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Very nicely done.
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Fuzzy
Jul 3, 16:01
1
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That was so awesome on your part......
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Walt_Disney
Jul 3, 15:53
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Very nice! Well done.
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Krusty
Jul 3, 15:48
3
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