A patient calls with an urgent complaint. He is terribly worried.
We get him on the schedule the same day. Doesn't sound like he needs an ambulance.
He comes roaring in to clinic right before his visit, when I am standing by my receptionist's desk.
"Am I going to DIE?" he says.
I reply: "Yes."
He stares at me, outraged, for a moment. Then shakes his head, "NO! I meant am I going to die NOW?"
"How would I know? I haven't heard the story or examined you yet. You don't LOOK like you are going to die right now."
He stomps back to the scale to weigh himself, shaking his head and muttering. "Doctors...."