Is it an English thing?

[StumpyDave]

... or are doctor's receptionists everywhere nosey busy-bodies?  Aren't our medical issues private between us and out doctor?

I had what turned out to be shingles a while ago.  If you've had it then you'll know how unpleasant it can be.  I called the surgery to get an appointment and was met with the usual Gestapo style response.
Name? - Ok that's fair
Date of birth? - may have several patients with the same name
Address? - narrowing down the list a bit now
Which doctor? - I'd rather not, oh sorry, I thought you said Witch Doctor - any will do
What's wrong with you?
Now at this point several options sprang to mind:
"I don't know. That's why I wanted to see a doctor"
or
"I'm pretty sure I have myasthenia and wanted a second opinion"
I decided just to describe my symptoms:
"I have an unpleasant rash and an uncomfortable swelling in my pants........ Hello, hello, is there anyone there?"

[Mikekoz13]

Dave-

It's the same here in the States. The question they ask now that bugs me is, "Do you have a gun in the house?". I always refuse to answer this question...... which always pisses them off. I tell them it's none of their business what I have in my home and owning a gun isn't against the law.

[MagmaBabe]

What?!!

what has that got to do with going to see a doctor?!! 

[Mikekoz13]

What?!!

what has that got to do with going to see a doctor?!! 

EXACTLY!!!!! It's just Big Brother gathering information...........

[Timmay]

I know and I hate it too when you go to the Emergency room with your kids after they have gotten hurt.  I understand they are just doing it to protect the kids...but they act like or want to believe you are the one who caused the injury to your child.  Oh Yea..I just beat the hell out of my kid...lets take them to the ER so I can get arrested.  Im sorry, I understand why they do it..really I do because there are people out there...especially mothers with kids who have an abusive husband and they will try everything they can think of to cover it up for their so called loving husbands.  Anyone who beats their kid(s) need their head examined.

[PigPen]

I know and I hate it too when you go to the Emergency room with your kids after they have gotten hurt.  I understand they are just doing it to protect the kids...but they act like or want to believe you are the one who caused the injury to your child.  Oh Yea..I just beat the hell out of my kid...lets take them to the ER so I can get arrested.  Im sorry, I understand why they do it..really I do because there are people out there...especially mothers with kids who have an abusive husband and they will try everything they can think of to cover it up for their so called loving husbands.  Anyone who beats their kid(s) need their head examined.

Believe me Tim, I know where you are coming from. When my son was getting his chemo treatments, one of the doctors accused us of breaking one of his ribs. We were furious to say the least. My wife demanded that they do the X-Ray again. This time they did a full skeletal survey so we could prove to them that everything was OK.

Then it just so happened that both of my kids broke their arms at 5 years old. It happened almost exactly a year apart. (They are only separated by 15 months in age) We thought for sure we would get a visit from social services.

[StumpyDave]

I've had both of my boys in hospital to get arms in plaster.  Fortunately they both were happy to volunteer the ridiculous antics that led to that situation.
When my wife had an ectopic pregnancy I got dragged to on side and given the thrid degree.  Once she was diagnosed the staff couldn't have been better.

[tomgallagher]

Dave-

It's the same here in the States. The question they ask now that bugs me is, "Do you have a gun in the house?". I always refuse to answer this question...... which always pisses them off. I tell them it's none of their business what I have in my home and owning a gun isn't against the law.

Never heard that one before. That's ridiculous.

[schro]

Agree with Tom.

[GASlick]

The thing that bothers me is they ask you all these quesitons in the waiting room with all these people listening.  I had cyst last summer, looked like a big pimple, on my left ahhh, mmmmm "boy".  The receptionist asked, "why are you here to see the doctor today?"  I looked her in the eye and said "I have a pimple on my nut!"  She would never make eye contact with me after that!   lol  Turned out to be a sebaceous cyst, and easily fixed with a little lidocaine, a scalpel and a dr with steady hands.  LOL  Haven't been that nervous since the the "Big V"!

[skiking]

I know and I hate it too when you go to the Emergency room with your kids after they have gotten hurt.  I understand they are just doing it to protect the kids...but they act like or want to believe you are the one who caused the injury to your child.  Oh Yea..I just beat the hell out of my kid...lets take them to the ER so I can get arrested.  Im sorry, I understand why they do it..really I do because there are people out there...especially mothers with kids who have an abusive husband and they will try everything they can think of to cover it up for their so called loving husbands.  Anyone who beats their kid(s) need their head examined.

Believe me Tim, I know where you are coming from. When my son was getting his chemo treatments, one of the doctors accused us of breaking one of his ribs. We were furious to say the least. My wife demanded that they do the X-Ray again. This time they did a full skeletal survey so we could prove to them that everything was OK.

Then it just so happened that both of my kids broke their arms at 5 years old. It happened almost exactly a year apart. (They are only separated by 15 months in age) We thought for sure we would get a visit from social services.

My parents got a visit from social services when I was 9.  Within a year I broke 3 ribs, an arm, and fractured my skull.  For some reason the doctors didn't believe me when I told them how I did it.  Social services monitored me for about a week then came to the conclusion that I just did stupid stuff.

[RICKYBOBBY74]

why do they ask if i put out on the 1st date?

[tomgallagher]

looking to get laid I guess.