Parents

I wish I could take credit for this.  An attending who was once my senior, was supervising my care of a patient in clinic.  She wasn't allowing us to vaccinate her 2 month old child, an act of supreme idiocy...not in my opinion...in medical fact.  Her reasons, as they always are, are misinformed, ignorant, misguided and often selfish.  After politely arguing with her for 15 minutes, behind my mask I'm a red faced maniac.  I walk out.  My attending discusses this with mother longer and he himself comes out very frustrated.  Guessing the end result of his conversation I say, "Well you can lead a horse to water, but you can't make him drink it."  He looks at me for a second and with frustration in his voice, "But you can light one on fire, and he'll be warm for the rest of his life." Parents are often the hardest part of our job.

Newbie Doc