Tongue in cheek 2 - Mom needs knee surgery

My mom needs knee surgery. She has the forbearance of Job and never once complains about the constant pain she is in. This is a problem, because as we all know, the squeaky wheel gets the oil. Her pain must have escalated beyond a certain level of tolerance because she is now talking about getting knee surgery. No laughing matter and a bit concerning given we want no complications. However, as I am learning to see humour in all situations, I thought I would relay the conversations we have had but with the greatest of love for Amma.

So she went to doctor number #1. He took one look at her x-rays and said he would give her a package deal and that she was making the right decision coming to him as he was an expert in these surgeries having studied abroad. But "what about my bone deficiency due to Paget's" my mother spluttered? To which he nodded reassuringly - "don't worry it will be fine". But would it? Given he got to pocket a cool couple of lakhs? We needed a second opinion and went to the next one who said someone by the name of the first doctor has consulted him about my mom's chart and also assisted him in surgeries. Really? So this was our man! He was slightly more pricey - but then he seemed the doctor of doctors - so maybe he was the one?! He also quoted a package deal, smiled reassuringly and did a great sales job. Amma swore he would be her surgeon. Except my sister decided to do some sleuthing and found out our first doctor knew nothing of this man and had never consulted him!

The plot having thickened thus, Amma was a bit disenchanted. So she called her friend and neighbour who has just come out of surgery. I then called Amma to find out the final verdict. She sounded triumphant and said "Globus it is! The patient gets delivered excellent food in the room, the guests can eat in the five star cafeteria downstairs, the room comes nicely fitted with all amenities and the whole atmosphere is like somewhere abroad". "But Amma, what about the doctor?" I queried. To which she said "Oh he is a North Indian with impressive degrees. I am sure he will be fine" (Are we trusting North Indian doctors more now?)Ever the practical one, Amma had decided that she just needed to choose based on the things she could control. She definitely had a point. Knee surgeries are where the money's at. Who can tell competence through all that sales talk?! What more could I say?