Which patient is which

[Just Plain Ruff]

Two patients limp into two different medical clinics with the same complaint. Both have trouble walking and appear to require a hip replacement. The FIRST patient is examined within the hour, is x-rayed the same day and has a time booked for surgery the

following week.The SECOND sees his family doctor after waiting 3 weeks for

an appointment, then waits 8 weeks to see a specialist, then gets an x-ray,

which is not reviewed for another week and finally has his surgery scheduled

for a month from then.

Why the different treatment for the two patients?

Question: What kind of patients do you think I'm talking about?

This is a true story - this happened to my family over the past 2 years. Two different patients - 2 different outcomes.

I am sure that this has happened to many many others too so it's not a isolated incident.

[rdelisle]

I'm going to guess that the first patient is a dog and the second patient is a family member only because I have seen similar happen before. A couple I knew owned horses and they could get a vet out the day after calling for artificial insemination but had to wait six months to see a fertility specialist so they could have a baby themselves.

[Just Plain Ruff]

yep yep yep

[Dooger]

I wonder if my vet could fit me in for shoulder surgery. :?