Consult

Another story KM told me just recently:

A well-to-do young woman was admitted to a private hospital for some trivial problem. As you would expect, some sophisticated X-rays were done (with or without a good reason), and, fortunately or unfortunately, a rather uncommon disease was found.

The doctor there explained the problem to this woman. Alas, she put up an extraordinary effort and search the internet for anything and everything about this condition. Yes, she learned a lot - and then she decided to seek a second opinion.

She came and consulted one of our professors as a private case.

The catch was: She brought all her X-rays for the consultation, with no reports, nor any hint of what she learned from the web. (Of course she gradually revealed her hidden cards during that hour of discussion.)

My colleague passed the test - partly to his credit, partly because he recently saw another similar case and had done his homework !

PS. My amygdala flashes back a vivid comment of VY, our previous consultant endocrinologist: This is not a consult, but insult.

I shouldn't think like this, I know.