Doctors and doctors - A poem!

Posted , 16 users are following.

I mentioned this poem in another post this morning. Given the number of people who commented on their experiences with mis-diagnosis I thought you'd like to see it - I posted it on another PMR forum.

In last month's edition of Scope, the magazine for the Institute of Physics and Engineering in Medicine, there is a historical article about the man who founded the society that preceded the IPEM. After his death his family found the following poem in his papers. Remember, he was a doctor himself!

Doctors and Doctors

One little doctor, looks you thro' and thro',

Can't diagnose your case, and then there are two.

Two little doctors, failing to agree,

Call a consultation. Then there are three.

Three little doctors, poke you o'er and o'er,

Send for a specialist. Then there are four.

Four little doctors, wonder you're alive,

Order in the x-ray man, then there are five.

Five little doctors, trying funny tricks,

Another brings the stomach pump - and then there are six.

Six little doctors, preparing you for heaven,

In comes a DD, then there are seven.

Seven little doctors, decide to operate -

Call in a surgeon, then there are eight.

Eight little doctors, think it is your spine,

Send for a neurologist, then there are nine.

Nine little doctors, all of them are men,

Send for a lady doctor - then there are ten.

Ten little doctors, standing by your bed,

Come to a decision, find that you are dead.

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  • Posted

    Very funny and oh so true!  I agree with others here, that I have learned so much from this group. It has made me realise that much of what causes me pain and prevents me from walking properly is related to PMR/steroids and not entirely due to spinal stenosis and trapped disc. So thank you all for giving me information that the doctors never did.

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