Nicholas Goldberg: Should I call my doctor “doctor” or is that passé?
How should I answer the letter from my doctor? This is not a simple question for so many people in this generation. What would it actually mean to be a doctor? Is there a time when you do not need to call your doctor? Is there a time when you do not have to call your doctor?
My wife has had some health issues in the last ten years. Her blood pressure is a little high and she wants to make sure her doctor gets the full report. Because he is in the same building as us, we are able to call him to the house instead of traveling across town after work. That’s a small price to pay to make sure your doctor’s report is right. There is no time in life that needs to be a “take it home and get you the full report” time.
A lot of us would be happy to have the doctors and other medical professionals of this generation call us “doctor.” They are not as bad as what an old person with bad handwriting may call you. They are a true physician and would take the time to explain to you the full report that needed to be addressed and if not addressed, it could mean problems for you and your family. They would have a full report and know exactly what is going on because they have done the time and effort to get it. They would do anything in their power to help you.
When I was in my late 70s and early 80s, there was no such thing as a phone call or letter saying “Please call me back.” They were given in person after a time of time when we were away from our doctor or when the doctors were out of the office. The days of waiting for a letter in the mail were numbered. They are so few and far between today that there is little reason for any doctor in this generation to call.
One of the reasons why it is called “passé”