Mad Referrals

No the referrals are not mad, but they are highly likely to cause instant madness.

Referrals are very common in medical practice, and I would say that the case referring itself is definitely an art, same goes for accepting a referral, but the latter can sometimes be a pain. As turning down a referral is a showing of disrespect, but having to see those unnecessary ones, especially during a busy call, is somehow really a torment.

Mad referral #1:
When I was in Orthopedic posting, I once got a referral from medical that one patient complained of leg pain and refer Ortho for "to rule out fracture". Wait, the best part is, no Xray was done yet. How could you refer Ortho without having done a Xray? You mean you're..only suspecting it? What about one day i'll refer back a case "to rule out diabetes, pls kindly check his sugar"? They'll sure come and burn my department, right?

Mad referral #2:
My good friend a medical MO, once told me about similar problems. He was referred a case from O&G: Sinus arrhythmia. My friend nearly developed instant arrhythmia after hearing that. Sinus arrhythmnia, a perfectly normal condition, what do you have to refer medical for?!

Mad referral #3:
I think this is the best. When I was in medical, one man was admitted from some klinik kesihatan. I read the referral letter:
"Dear doctor, thank you for seeing this 53 yr-old man, complained of loss of appetite and weight loss...Impression: Failure to thrive.

Oh god, a 53 yr-old man was referred for failure to thrive, what has this world become?!


P/s: "Failure to thrive" basically refers to a baby/child whose physical growth is significantly less than that of peers!=)