It must be we have passed a milestone that says we are

[moniss]

doomed as a society. The other day I was in for the ritual fun of a colonoscopy. I know, I know there is nothing higher on the dislike list but it beats getting bad news. However when they wheeled me into the prep room they had several signs on the doors staring at you once you were inside. The usual about don't drive etc. But one caught my eye and to me it was astonishing that the hospital actually had been having such problems that they felt the need to post it.

It said "Please we ask that you refrain from cell phone use while the staff is preparing you and asking you questions." Get the picture in your mind of a patient laying there and while the staff is trying to talk to them they are f'ng around with their cell phone. If you can't put the phone down for just the 2 or 3 minutes of them going through the process with you and going through your chart and asking questions maybe you need to reconsider your development as a person.

I'm not so innocent as to believe in the Tooth Fairy but I am gobsmacked that people can't see how rude this is to medical professionals and their limited time or that they see it and just don't care. Think of how frequent the problem had to be that the hospital posted a sign about it. Zero level of thought with people, zero level of respect for others, zero awareness of a situation. They are the same ones who get downright indignant if they are called out for any of this behavior. No wonder we can't break through to some of these people. They are absolutely hopeless.

[Silent Type]

1. Totally agree. But wish they'd put up a sign, "Saying don't ask the patient 20 times for their date of birth."

I get why they do it, but I lose confidence when they keep asking that. Similarly, how many times do they need to ask “which arm, eye, etc., are we operating on today?” Want to yell, “It’s in that damn chart on the end of the bed.”