An Unlikely View of Transparency...

Transparency in health care is a favorite topic here at IB. Recently, I came across this (perhaps over the top) example on the web:

What Doctor's Say And What They Are Thinking

� "Welllllll, what have we here...?" (He has no idea and is hoping you�ll give him a clue.)

� "Let me check your medical history." (I want to see if you�ve paid your last bill before spending any more time with you.)

� "Why don�t we make another appointment later in the week." (I�m playing golf this afternoon, and this a waste of time or I need the bucks, so I�m charging you for another office visit.)

� "We have some good news and some bad news." (The good news is, I�m going to buy that new BMW. The bad news is, you�re going to pay for it.)

� "Let�s see how it develops." (Maybe in a few days it will grow into something that can be cured.)

� "Let me schedule you for some tests." (I have a forty-percent interest in the lab.)

� "I�d like to have my associate look at you." (He�s going through a messy divorce and owes me a bundle.)

� "I�d like to prescribe a new drug." (I�m writing a paper and would like to use you for a guinea pig.)

� "If it doesn�t clear up in a week, give me a call." (I don�t know what it is. Maybe it will go away by itself.)

� "That�s quite a nasty looking wound." (I think I�m going to throw up.)

� "This may smart a little." (Last week two patients bit off their tongues.)

� "Well, we�re not feeling so well today, are we?" (I�m stalling for time. Who are you and why are you here?)

� "This should fix you up." (The drug company slipped me some big bucks to prescribe this stuff.)

� "Everything seems to be normal." (Rats! I guess I can�t buy that new beach condo after all.)

� "I�d like to run some more tests." (I can�t figure out what�s wrong. Maybe the kid in the lab can solve this one.)

� "Do you suppose all this stress could be affecting your nerves?" (You�re crazier�n an outhouse rat. Now, if I can only find a shrink who�ll split fees with me.)

� "There is a lot of that going around." (My God, that�s the third one this week. I�d better learn something about this.)

� "If those symptoms persist, call for an appointment." (I�ve never heard of anything so disgusting. Thank God I�m off next week.)