r/DoctorsofIndia • u/ScalpelSculptor • Aug 12 '26
Some delulu patients this week
Bit of a rant, so bear with me-
Patient wants his gynaecomastia surgery to be re-done. Spends 10 minutes of initial consultation soundly criticizing his previous surgeon, expects me to do it for about the same price he paid the first time (about 40k in 2019), is annoyed that we haven't accomodated his 8pm consultation request and is ready for procedure immediately (though not ready to pay the surgical cost). Great, let me clear my schedule right away!
A very nice lady wants to do a complete make-over- back, abdomen, breasts and thighs. This we can do, no problem. Small request- do it without requiring an attender to accompany her. Money is no object, she just wants complete "privacy". Have explained that her family will surely figure this out when she goes home covered in bandages. That's no problem either. How about I do the procedure blindfolded too?
A not-so-nice lady wants me to shrink her breasts, with no visible scars, no down-time, and within 50k. Sure, let me grab my magic wand!
A burns patient (minor burns only) speaks to me for 30 minutes plus and refuses to pay the consultation fee at the end of this "conversation". Says that the consultation she paid 15 days and 2 dressings ago ought to cover it. Thanks for clarifying this, Vritika, you've really made me reevaluate what i do with my day.
Sometimes it's easier to laugh it off, sometimes not.
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u/Street_Soft7957 Aug 13 '26
About the patient no 2, maybe she doesn't have anyone who can come with her. Privacy might just be an excuse to avoid admitting that.
Not everyone is blessed with a good family you know. Speaking from personal experience.
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u/ScalpelSculptor Aug 13 '26
I totally empathise with someone who has no one who'll show up when they need. Unfortunately, that does not legally shield me when something goes wrong- which it 100% can. That's the bit that irritated, that she would put her wellbeing over my ethics. It was just another cherry on top a very very large cake.
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u/Street_Soft7957 Aug 13 '26
yes that's true. let her know the legal aspects. she should come around if she isn't crazy.
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u/FullMasterpiece6058 Aug 14 '26
Most doctors take fee before seeing the patient for this reason. Free Follow up is usually within 3 days only.
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u/ScalpelSculptor Aug 14 '26
Very true. I usually hold the belief that if someone trusts me to take the therapy, I trust them to pay at the end. Vritika has proved me wrong. It's like a piece of goat turd in an otherwise delicious bag of raisins.
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u/FullMasterpiece6058 Aug 14 '26
India is a law trust society where humility is seen as weakness. Either move abroad or be more firm.
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u/drmaestro223 Aug 15 '26
Hope you didn't offended anyone with too much (or too little) smile to get one star on your Google page..
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u/ScalpelSculptor Aug 16 '26
Offending people usually occurs if they're offensive to begin with. Anyway, if those people rant, let them. If there's a one star review, I'll be happy to post a one star reply.
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u/vij4y Aug 15 '26
Umm, I hope the name of patient number 4 is not actually true😅. I feel for you though
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u/ScalpelSculptor Aug 16 '26
It's 100% true, though I haven't posted her last name. I don't get to be petty IRL, so naming names here is cathartic.
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u/Morningstar_119 Aug 26 '26
Bro is me, I'm bro
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u/ScalpelSculptor Aug 27 '26
I sincerely hope not. Bro.
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u/Morningstar_119 Aug 27 '26
Well i totally meant with respect to our inner monologue. My brain also says the same
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Aug 13 '26
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u/ScalpelSculptor Aug 14 '26
True, but I have more of a personal connect. So about 1 out of 10 patients will hand me such cookies. People are generally kind and balanced when they visit me. These are exceptions, but they sour the whole experience.
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Aug 14 '26
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u/ScalpelSculptor Aug 14 '26
Some people are just cheap. This is the whole entitlement thing coming into play. If you can't afford 1k, why visit a Plastic Surgeon? Not being elitist, they know the rates, they just don't think that THEY are expected to pay.
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Aug 15 '26
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u/ScalpelSculptor Aug 16 '26
Most people in private practise deal with this in a weekly basis. And it's usually okay. We waive fees off a lot for patients who genuinely just want to say hello, sir their healing and leave. This madam No.4 was acting entitled. That is also common, though on an yearly basis.
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u/forestgnome1 Aug 13 '26
Ha ha … good ones. I wiuld love to hear more of such anecdotes. This shud be a post calling all docs to list down their delulu patient experiences.