(My mother has a fall on the stairs. My sister and I take her to the hospital to get a cast on her leg. While we’re there, my mother mentions that my sister had an operation on her kneecaps about one year ago.)
Doctor: “Really? How is it developing?”
(My sister shows him one of her knees).
Sister: “Hurts a little if I run, but it’s going well.”
Doctor: “Ah. I suggest you to do some exercise, like using a stationary bike.”
(Once my mom has her cast, we start to leave. We then notice that there’s an extra 400 pesos charge for a medical consultation unrelated to my mom.)
Mom: “Excuse me. What is this extra consultation here?”
Receptionist: “It was for the examination of your daughter.”
Mom: “Examination? He looked at her leg and suggested exercise!”
(They argue for a moment, until the doctor comes in.)
Mom: “Excuse me. You’re charging us extra for looking at my daughter’s leg?”
Doctor: “Well, I did give medical advice, so it was a consultation.”
(I look outside at the sign in front of the hospital. It should be noted that I’m studying communications in college.)
Me: “Excuse me. Might I offer a suggestion?”
Doctor: “Yes?”
Me: “Some of the letters in the sign outside can be a little difficult to read when they pass the pink stripes in the sign. I think you should change their color so people can read it easier from a distance.”
Doctor: *confused* “Okay. Thank you.”
Me: “You owe me 2,000 pesos for the image consultation.”
(They decide to drop the charge.)
