Friday, July 11, 2008

Encrypted

Marriages have code phrases. One of the ones we've picked up is 'Cut the red wire, but first cut the blue wire'. Its a reference to people defusing a bomb getting instructions from someone who's not too well organized.

This morning, we used it again, referring to a doctor's office. Seems like its usually a doctors office. Once again, they wanted something, but they weren't prepared to tell us what; then, when they were, they weren't prepared to tell us when; then when they did that (after we called back twice), they mentioned that this thing that was finally scheduled? For three days from now? It needs a different test in a different place both before and after. Its almost as if they're trying to come up with a reason not to do the thing that was scheduled. Surely, we're not the first to come up against this. Surely we're not the first.

But it doesn't matter. Because they're not affected by their incompetence. In fact, they may well think of themselves as quite competent. Hey, we get the bills out every week, we get paid every week, whats not to like?

Cut the red -- no, the blue wire. No, wait....

2 comments:

Lone Chatelaine said...

I think doctor's offices pretty much expect us to just do what they say, when they say, and until they tell us what to do, don't ask any questions.

Like we aren't capable of understanding our own health and have no need to understand it.

Cerulean Bill said...

Some docs are stupid that way, but in most cases I think it just doesn't occur to them that what they're doing isn't helpful. And despite what you read in perky little tip articles about 'If you don't like your doctor, switch', very very few people do. We put up with it.