Fined by Physicians

[Charles Drago]

Earlier this year I was scheduled for minor out-patient dermatology-related surgery. I was required to drive 30 minutes to the office where the procedure was to take place.

After waiting patiently for 80 minutes, I asked the receptionist to explain the delay. "Oh," she said matter-of-factly, "there was a problem with the previous patient."

For over an hour she had not seen fit to offer what one would expect to be the common courtesy of informing me of this situation.

She had, however, asked for my co-pay when I arrived. On time, I might add.

I asked her to return my check, which she did. I also rescheduled for the following week.

Six days later I realized that I could not keep the appointment. I attempted to conform to the physician's protocol by informing his office of this change of plans 24 hours in advance. I left a message with his answering service.

Two weeks later I received an invoice from the physician for $100 -- punishment for "not calling to cancel."

I ignored the invoice. A month later I began to receive from a collection agency, via mail and phone call, demands for payment.

I responded with a letter in which I detailed the sequence of events, accused the physician of engaging in a sophisticated shake-down, and included my invoice for $101 -- punishment for having been kept waiting as detailed above. I further stated that I was notifying the Consumer Protection Division of my state's Health Department regarding this extortion effort.

The collection efforts immediately ceased.

[Peter Lemkin]

Earlier this year I was scheduled for minor out-patient dermatology-related surgery. I was required to drive 30 minutes to the office where the procedure was to take place.

After waiting patiently for 80 minutes, I asked the receptionist to explain the delay. "Oh," she said matter-of-factly, "there was a problem with the previous patient."

For over an hour she had not seen fit to offer what one would expect to be the common courtesy of informing me of this situation.

She had, however, asked for my co-pay when I arrived. On time, I might add.

I asked her to return my check, which she did. I also rescheduled for the following week.

Six days later I realized that I could not keep the appointment. I attempted to conform to the physician's protocol by informing his office of this change of plans 24 hours in advance. I left a message with his answering service.

Two weeks later I received an invoice from the physician for $100 -- punishment for "not calling to cancel."

I ignored the invoice. A month later I began to receive from a collection agency, via mail and phone call, demands for payment.

I responded with a letter in which I detailed the sequence of events, accused the physician of engaging in a sophisticated shake-down, and included my invoice for $101 -- punishment for having been kept waiting as detailed above. I further stated that I was notifying the Consumer Protection Division of my state's Health Department regarding this extortion effort.

The collection efforts immediately ceased.

Way to go Charles!.....I find all too many [no, not all] physicians to be obscenely interested in mega-profits, over their patients' health. More medical schools now have courses in how to become a private corporation, than in community and public health - or ethics.

[David Guyatt]

I think one of the benefits of the British National Health system is that there remains a truly dedicated core of health professionals who do not sink towards these sorts of grasping ways.

Yet that is.

Dentistry is now largely private in the UK (finding a national health dentist is harder than finding a 20 year old virgin), and it is now the case of how big your wallet is...

[Damien Lloyd]

Your so funny David, 20 year old virgins... Like such a thing has ever existed.

As for dentists I heard It's now cheaper to fly to Poland and pay for private treatment than it is for many of the surgeries to be carried out by an NHS dentist. Last time I went they numbed my mouth then demanded £90 before they would continue.

I think the NHS will eventually disappear. A challenge from the WTO will claim that the NHS has an unfair advantage over private firms inside the UK and is in contravention of free trade. The European court will uphold the British courts judgement that the UK has soveriegnty in the matter but will be overturned by the International court. Although we still couldn't be forced to comply because of our Veto.

[David Guyatt]

Not so much a 20 year old virgin Damien, as a 60 year old grumpy old bastard who has spent an extraordinary amount of time in hospital - 4 full anesthetic operations in a six week period just two years ago for example.

I return to out-patients clinics (plural) at least half a dozen times a year and know all the main departments of my local NHS hospital like the back of my hand.

I once walked out in fury from a dentists surgery after having my mouth numbed and never returned to the prick again.

In other words, I'm speaking from experience old fruit. But my experience may not be typical, of course...

[Jan Klimkowski]

As for dentists I heard It's now cheaper to fly to Poland and pay for private treatment than it is for many of the surgeries to be carried out by an NHS dentist.

This is true. I have Anglo-Polish relatives who fly Easy Jet from Stansted to Krakow whenever they need to see a dentist....

[Charles Drago]

I once walked out in fury from a dentists surgery after having my mouth numbed and never returned to the prick again.

I once had a dentist say to me, just prior to a novocaine injection, "You're going to feel a little prick."

Later that evening, at home, alone, I did.

Hey, don't make fun of my hobbies.

[Magda Hassan]

My daughter in law is Polish and she also goes to Poland (from Australia) to get her dentistry work done. All dentistry here is private and very expensive.

[David Guyatt]

I once walked out in fury from a dentists surgery after having my mouth numbed and never returned to the prick again.

I once had a dentist say to me, just prior to a novocaine injection, "You're going to feel a little prick."

Later that evening, at home, alone, I did.

Hey, don't make fun of my hobbies.

Best to keep your hobbies in hand I say Charlie.

[Charles Drago]

I once walked out in fury from a dentists surgery after having my mouth numbed and never returned to the prick again.

I once had a dentist say to me, just prior to a novocaine injection, "You're going to feel a little prick."

Later that evening, at home, alone, I did.

Hey, don't make fun of my hobbies.

Best to keep your hobbies in hand I say Charlie.

I'll try to get a grip on myself.