Assumed privilege.
Why do so many who live a life of privilege assume they’re entitled to more, and that they are above following certain rules?
I was at the lab again today for more blood work (yes, I’m ok, just getting my iron levels checked to ensure I’m not anemic). There were several signs posted both outside on the door and in various places of the waiting room forbidding the use of cell phones. There was an older man sitting a couple seats away from me, dressed in a suit and with a stethescope resting on his lap. The waiting area was small enough that I could hear parts of his conversation with the woman next to him, I assume a colleague or his wife, about dialing in on a conference call for a patient of his. He proceeded to do so… with his phone on speaker mode.
Almost immediately after the recording for the conference line started, the clerk behind the desk stood up and said, “Excuse me, sir, but cell phone use is not allowed in here.”
The man said, quite annoyed, “I’m a doctor and this is an urgent call.”
Clerk, still professional in her demanor: “I’m sorry, but you’ll have to step out in the hallway.”
The doctor stands up and walks to the counter, he lowers his voice and mumbles something that doesn’t make its way clearly to my ears. However, the clerk still responds in a tone loud enough that I can hear, “I’m sorry, but it’s company policy so you must step out into the hallway.”
At this point, I’m watching and listening intently - along with the five others in the room.
The doctor says, “Fine, then I will use one of your phones,” and starts to walk around and behind the desk. This whole time, his phone is still on speaker mode.
The clerk at this point is becoming annoyed, and rightfully so in my opinion. She raises her voice noticeably to stop him from proceeding completely around the desk and says, “The best I can do is place the phone on the counter for you to use, but you cannot come back here.”
I guess that wasn’t enough for the good doctor, so he walked out in somewhat of a huff and conducted his business in the hall.
I could be wrong, but from my perspective, the doctor seemed to think because he was a medical professional, he was removed from the rules set forth by the lab. Clearly the call wasn’t a private matter if he was going to conduct it right there in the lobby, so I see his lack of consideration of those around him and the disregard of the company’s policy as he felt he was entitled to something more.
Sadly, it’s nothing new.
Current Mood:
Awake
By Deanna, May 24, 2008 @ 10:29 am
Wow, what an idiot. Just because you work in the same business doesn’t mean you just take over like that. I’ve never noticed people like that around here.
[Reply]
By Khayte, May 27, 2008 @ 7:38 am
HAHA lol. That was completely a sort of absurdity. I always encounter people here with that attitude. They rarely give way to others and they likely don’t respect rules. All that matters for them is their name, their fame and the sort, lol.
Btw, can I be on your blogroll Amber? It would be my pleasure. I just added you on mine too. Thanks! :)
[Reply]
By Destiny, May 28, 2008 @ 2:22 am
It’s quite amusing how some people think that because they are in the field, rules and policies don’t apply to them or that they have more power/privilege over than others. It never ceases to amaze me, but then you begin to wonder… what is the true motivation for this person to be a doctor?
[Reply]
By Claudine, May 28, 2008 @ 4:00 am
Oh my, I know what you mean. There are lots of people like that here. Why can’t they understand that rules are rules? They don’t know that they’re just embarrassing themselves by doing that.
[Reply]
By Julia, May 28, 2008 @ 10:18 am
The audacity of some people is simply appalling.. I can just see him at the bank:
Doctor: I’ll just get the money out of the safe myself. *tries going behind counter*
Clerk: Sir! You can’t come back here!
Doctor: Oh, its okay. I’m a doctor.
[Reply]
By Chide, May 30, 2008 @ 9:03 am
omgosh that doctor’s unbelievable! SEriously, he’s a doctor and he’s unwilling to follow rules in the hospital. idiot.
[Reply]
By amy, May 30, 2008 @ 6:15 pm
wow, that doctor sounds like an ass! rules are there for a reason.
[Reply]