3 comments:
1. She gana conned by a plumber ($400), electrician($600) and roof contractor($500) and she say its worth it.
2. By mentioning leaking roof, could mean that she is quite rich, so maybe the amount above is peanuts to her.
3. Google her name (without the Christian name) and maybe you would get the other reason why she defended the overcharged doctor.
From ST Forum
Thank docs who make themselves available
I REFER to the letter, 'Clinic charged $42 for consultation over CNY' by Mr Andrew Chia Teck Fatt (ST, Feb 23).
I do sympathise with Mr Chia, but I honestly feel he should not begrudge the fact that his grandmother was charged $42. In fact, he should be grateful to the doctor who made himself available on a public holiday when most clinics are closed.
If he had taken his grandmother to a public hospital, he would have had to pay a higher fee. Public hospitals charge no less than $70 per consultation. In addition, he would have had to wait at least a couple of hours to see a doctor.
I called a plumber recently to fix a leaking tap. He charged me $400 without batting an eyelid.
I called an electrician to fix a fuse box, and he charged me $600 without hesitation.
I called a roof contractor to fix a leaking roof. He sent a worker up to the roof with a pail of cement. The worker came down within five minutes and I had a $500 bill. I paid because it was after office hours and a public holiday.
Why do we complain when we pay $42 to the hardworking doctor who makes himself available on a public holiday? It's a pittance to say the least.
I believe the good doctor should have charged Mr Chia $100 for a consultation on a public holiday. And that, I feel, is still very modest.
Amy Ng Siok Im (Ms)