Marking Time

By Libra

Doctors and vets

This morning, while sipping my coffee and preparing for the day, I receive a call from our local vet’s surgery.
 It’s to check on my cat's medication for fleas. The vet is worried since I had said while re-ordering that Leo had a bad reaction last time.

"Would I like to have a chat with her about it?" she says. I am surprised at the concern and attention to detail but  assure her I am going to try the new treatment again because I think the problem is the way I put  it on his neck and he  was able  to lick it off.

Still, it got me thinking about the high-quality care we give  our pets compared to humans.

Take the incident a few months ago with M’s repeat prescriptions.
I see this packet on the kitchen table and do not recognize the drug . I query it with M who expresses surprise  too that the doctor had not mentioned he was putting him on a new one.
 
Well, I google it. The medication prescribed was not for his heart condition, but rather for epilepsy, bipolar disorder, and a psychotic disorder. 
I ring the Health Centre. The receptionist says casually it’s a mistake, and it's  been crossed off his list of repeat prescription.
There is no apology.
 But how did it happen?
 “Oh, there is a man with the same name in our practice.”
It's quite a mix-up, isn't it?

PS more worrying though is that the GP said later to M that he doesn't have time to go through repeat prescriptions and simply signs what staff put before him.

Photo: this evening sky reflects the turbulent world we live in today.

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