> On Wed, 15 Jul 1998 19:44:24 +0100, Katie Law
> <[log in to unmask]> wrote:
>
> >Now I know there may be difficulties accepting some presents patients
> >give you.
> >In general I have been the recipient of chocolates, plants, flowers, and
> >recently 6 tomato plants. No problems, although my male partners seem to
> >get whiskey and wine :-(
> >Yesterday I was given a peg bag!
> >Yes, you heard correctly - a plastic clothes peg bag - why?
> >I smiled - well the patient was smiling so I had to.
> >She is neither demented nor batty, so why?
>
The sociology and psychology of gift giving is complex - moreso here
since it is intertwined with paying off old doctor bills in our
fee-for-service system (to a lesser extent today with HMOs, etc.)
Growing up in the household of an archtypical old country GP on the
Texas-Mexican border we received an admixture of gifts and payments.
During watermelon season it was difficult to get a car in the garage,
the freezer was always well stocked with venison, rabbit, quail and wild
pig, during holidays the tamales and 'pan de polvo' (local delicacies)
were in abundance and when the word got around that ol' Doc would take
grandpaw's old Colt .45 'hogleg' pistol for the last three OB deliveries
which had been owed for the past five years (remember, this IS Texas),
well, Dad accumulated quite a collection in 50 years of practice. He
took a licking on most of it but on his death we found that amongst the
rusted crap he had taken in payment over the years there were some gems
that neither he or the patients ever knew of. These included an 1864
Winchester "Yellowbelly" rifle (approx. USD 10000) and a very early
Smith & Wesson .44 cal. 'American' Presentation model (approx. USD
12000). (He took as readily a rusted derelict worth $50 for the same
work.)
The scene had changed by the time I went into practice with my father,
though I still got plenty of victuals the locals were now savvy enough
to be taking advantage of the gun collectors that were coming through. I
did get a couple of offers from patients to 'take care' of anyone that I
thought needed 'taking care of' (sorely tempting on a couple of
occasions) and free hunting on most any ranch I wanted. Never did get a
pin bag, though.
Phil
4 Bailey Hill Road
Natick, MA, 01760, USA
[log in to unmask]
(508) 650-9097 - voice
(508) 650-9152 - fax
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