Hate them

Jenn,

Funny. I learned to hide DW's extra white coats. Was shocked in dealing with my hydrogeist (see other threads), when the plumber asked how DW enjoyed being a doctor. Totally flabbergasted for a few seconds, I quickly pulled it all together when walking into the front room of our rowhome. I saw that he must have glanced at the white coats hanging on the rack near our front door on his way to gather some more plumbing tools.

Funny. My carpet installer yesterday asked if my dh was a doctor. I assumed it must have been b/c of our last name (people are forever asking if I know the DrP they know), but it's actually b/c he spotted a magazine addressed to DH'S NAME, MD on the address label of a magazine in my 1/2 bath. I thought that was ... very observant. At least the guy couldn't change my price.

[Pollyanna]

. I thought that was ... very observant.

And moderately creepy...

[SuzySunshine]

I totally think of the scene in Pretty Woman when she tries to buy things in the nice boutiques because someday when we have more money that is going to be me trying to upgrade my wardrobe. I hate snooty salespeople.

And moderately creepy...

Yeah, that too.

FWIW - we don't have things addressed that way normally b/c A) it's not necessary and B) it creates situations like that. It was a work-associated weekly that was signed up for at work by a secretary or something.

[SuzySunshine]

We also don't use Dr on anything, DH especially doesn't want it on his airline tickets when he flies. I think the only thing we get that says Dr are the journals that he gets through the clinic.

[MrsK]

Why not on airline tix? Is it because of the whole "Is there a Doctor in the house?" situation?

[SuzySunshine]

Why not on airline tix? Is it because of the whole "Is there a Doctor in the house?" situation?

Yes, exactly, he'd be happy to help if he was the only one but he'd prefer to let others volunteer first then to have a flight attendant approach him b/c of the passenger list. Very few in air accidents have anything to do with neurosurgery.

[madeintaiwan]

Same thing with E. Only his journals and other work related mail like recruitment letters and drug stuff. He was horrified when his father purchased a ticket for him and put MD at the end of his name. He was seriously embarrassed and pissed at his dad for doing that. They asked for a doctor on a flight when E was returning from an ortho training. He figured some other gungho resident would respond to it. And like 5 of them did. Like Cheri said, there aren't many orthopedic emergencies on a flight. And aren't the flight attendants trained in CPR and on how to work those machines? Not much else that can be done on an airplane.

[poky]

Not much else that can be done on an airplane.

I think what they're usually looking for is an idea of how serious something might be (ie: do they need to land at the nearest airport and radio ahead for EMS, or can they continue on to the planned destination? Is it contagious? etc.), and, often, to reassure the patient.

[MrsK]

DrK always responds when they call for a doctor. Usually, it's like poky said -- they want to know whether they need to reroute and the patient needs to be reassured. Once DrK was on a train and a passenger had a stroke. They stopped the train, called the paramedics, and then the passenger refused to get off the train even after the paramedics insisted. DrK was so pissed.

[seaside*bliss]

I cant stand when people act like this; I mean for God sakes they are working retail!

[Deebs]

We don't put MD or Dr on anything really, either. Because DH is in EM (but probably more so because he was in EMS for years prior) he is usually one of the people who volunteers when someone asks for a Dr. For that reason, I really don't like to travel with him. We've been on two flights where he has ended up doing CPR (for one, American sent him $15 worth of McDonald's coupons as a thank you...seriously). In flight situations, the airlines have a medical center that they call into first - and then ask if there is medical personnel on board after being advised to do so.

We have pulled out the Dr. card in snotty situations like this one. Let these people assume we're making millions of dollars!

[poky]

We've been on two flights where he has ended up doing CPR (for one, American sent him $15 worth of McDonald's coupons as a thank you...seriously).

Yet another reason to avoid American like the plague. I don't want to threadjack, so I won't go into what they've messed up for us, but DH told his American story without naming the airline a couple times, even, and had people interrupt with "was it American?"

[Vishenka69]

(for one, American sent him $15 worth of McDonald's coupons as a thank you...seriously).

DH told me that he has has been advised not to accept any "payment" in such situations (not that they have happened). Something about being sued as a "good samaritan." As in, if you offer your help free of charge you can't be sued and if you accept anything as payment, you can.

I'm also paranoid about not having MD on anything except for wedding invitations from friends/family. While our contractor has been pretty nice, I'm sure he sees us as cash cows and doesn't get it when I cancel a project due to lack of funds. I also try to get all the quotes over the phone prior to anyone seeing the house or finding out what DH does. Our house is very average for the area but since we look younger than we are, many assume we're rolling in it to afford it.

[DCJenn]

There are so many physicians, lawyers, accountants and what-not in my neighborhood that I'm sure that the contractors have realized that 1) we qualify for the mortgages based on future income and then 2) immediately become cash poor because we've all just purchased 100+ year old houses.

and we all talk...all the time. If someone gives us an outrageous price, everyone will know about it in a day. Like when we lived here the first time and some idiot contractor saw the neighborhood and quoted us something like 60k for new kitchen cabinets and formica counters. Right.... I had them done for 8k by my yoga instructor's husband.

Jenn