Do you really get what you give?

Yesterday I was having a great morning.  I was in a good mood, up-beat, I had some really neat patients… it was great.  The afternoon was entirely different, however.  I was frustrated in traffic trying to meet Brock for lunch, and ended up getting back just as my first patient got here.

I was struck after I scanned my third incredibly rude patient in a row:  am I just getting back what I’m giving them? 

I really couldn’t tell if my behavior had changed enough because of my moods to cause my patients to treat me poorly.  The first couple was telling me exactly what pictures they wanted of their baby – never mind the important medical examination.  “Excuse me, am I a photographer?”  I so desperately wanted to say that… and yet, I go with the old stand-by, “We will just have to see how well the baby cooperates.”

The next couple, I knew, were nervous about their pregnancy.  She had previously had a miscarriage, and wanted to be sure that her early pregnancy was viable.  I turned the monitor towards her, showed her the heartbeat, and reminded her that I couldn’t really tell her anything, but the Doctor would be able to answer any of the questions she might have as soon as we were done.  I pulled the pictures I printed off of the printer, set them on the computer, and started to type up my report.  She reached over and grabbed the pictures to look at them.  I said, “Excuse me ma’am, those pictures are for the doctor,” and reached out to take them back.  She pulled them away from me, and said, “I just want to know what’s going on.”

I was speechless.  Flabbergasted.  Why am I being treated this way?  Did I do something to encourage this rude behavior?

I was assured afterwards that there are just some pushy, unpolite people out there with no self awareness, and no concern for others.  But what a stinking day.