Eh. You could not be more wrong. A doctor/patient relationship is a fiduciary one. Giving cash or gifts of significant value crosses boundaries that should not be breached.
Anyway, I'm just some doofus on the internet. I'm also fairly young and in good health. My doctor doesn't know me from Adam. I can tell you I'd be uncomfortable knowing my doc is accepting cash under the table (that's another issue. If the doc is really paying all his taxes you've given him more lines to fill out). If I don't tip do I not get the same standard of care? Certainly, that's an ethical dilemma.
It wasn't my opinion that accepting gifts is unethical. I didn't just make it up. Here's a couple links should you care to read up from actual doctors and nurses. The largest commonality - Do not accept cash or expensive gifts.

Hospitals around Boston

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Nurses

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Canada

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Damn...I want to party with this guy!

 

Shit. I know it. But he asked. So I answered...

 

Do you know what a fiduciary relationship is ?

Listing links from Canada doesn't make you right.

A doctor is really not a fiduciary.

You must be worried you are missing out on something.

Lighten up Francis.

 

What the heck man! Why so mad? Why respond like that? I have no interest in insulting you but when you respond like I get annoyed. No need for it. I bet you think a fiduciary relationship has to involve money. Here's a tip for you - it doesn't. Maybe open a dictionary before calling out someone else's grasp of the language...?
Anyway, you didn't like my Canadian link. How abt the other two? Lemme guess. You didn't open them.

 

Shoot. Sorry man. You may be right. Sitting on the couch with my newborn who has been practicing all day for the 10 hour marathon scream event in the 2036 Olympics. If you know how to cure a colicky, no sleeping baby I'll tip your doctor for you.

 

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Try this. I have found it to be really effective.

 

We are way off the point of this awesome Vegas Board. But I read the links you posted, and I appreciate you took the time to post them, and they made me think. For a minute.

Now imagine that your colicky baby has something more serious than being colicky (which, btw, is pretty serious when you are in it). Do you want to be another faceless number, one that has to wait in line? Or one that has to hope a nurse calls back. Or do you want to have some sort of relationship, one where you have a better chance of getting a response?

Relationships are everything in life. The way our normal US health systems are set up today, its not conducive to being something beyond a number.

Some people get an edge by becoming the Squeaky Wheel. For me, that sucks. I would rather be the appreciative customer, and establish a relationship. Any gesture is the most important part, and it makes a difference, like it or not. Fair or not.

Why are there are articles about the downside of customers appreciating special health care attention? Because there are hazards. But when you need a little help with a fast response, or being squeezed into an over burdened doctor's schedule, I assure you that you will determine that establishing a relationship thru appreciation is the lessor evil to those hazards.

It applies to everything. Doctors. Politics. Business. Personal.

Its just life.

 

Interesting perspective in a perfect world; but I would have to say that after being much older and wiser, the world is all about greased wheels. Money talks and bullshit walks; lawyers, doctors, everybody you come into contact with will evaluate you in terms of your monetary or social value to them; could definitely be subconscious but you get treated better with more priority the bigger client you are ( or if you give them money and gifts)

 

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