Doctors weigh in about office antics

Dear Annie: “Baffled Nurse in Indiana” wrote in dismay about parents allowing their children to play with tongue depressors and exam gloves. You printed several responses, one of which was from “Morris, Ill.,” who said doctors are greedy because they overschedule, making patients wait an hour or more.

As a physician who has been in practice for 23 years, there are legitimate reasons for this. I may have had an emergency or got stuck in surgery. Patients show up late and talk too much about Great-Aunt Tillie’s big toe problem. And keep in mind, if I take an extra five minutes to comfort a patient or calm a frightened child, I will give you extra time, as well. If I scheduled fewer patients, you would need to wait six months before you could make an appointment. – Frustrated Doc

Dear Doc: Thanks for weighing in. Here’s more:

From Oregon: In my 22 years of practice, I have never known a doctor to run late because of a leisurely lunch or golf game. In fact, most doctors spend their lunch (and sometimes dinner) trying to catch up. Medical care is by its nature unpredictable, so bring something to keep you (and your children) occupied.

Florida: Parents are teaching their children that if they have to wait too long, it’s someone else’s fault and so it’s OK to take gloves and tongue depressors. Those are not condiments at a fast-food place. I always brought books, paper, crayons and small toys with me when I took my children anywhere that might require a wait. And I always brought a book for myself.