The OTHER Dr. Mehl

So, I got a call from Camie's school this morning. It went something like this:

Mrs. Mehl: Hello!

Secretary: Hi Mrs. Mehl. We have a problem with Camie. She has been rubbing her eye a lot today. The skin around her eye is red, but her eye is not. What can you tell me about it?

Mrs. Mehl: I didn't notice anything.

Secretary: OK......

(silence)

Mrs. Mehl: Does she have pinkeye?

(more silence)

Secretary: Well, we don't know. Can you come look at her?

Mrs. Mehl: (Me wondering, "Why are you calling me if you don't know?...) Sure, I can come if you need me too. Do you think she has pinkeye?

(strained silence)

Secretary: We would like you to come check her eye out and tell us what you think.

Mrs. Mehl: (Me wondering, "Why do you think that I am more capable of a diagnosis than a school nurse?) OK, that's fine. What do YOU think it looks like?(Some information please...)

Secretary: I was just told to have you come to the office.

(silence)

Mrs. Mehl: (Realizing that logic is not part of this discussion...) Um, OK, I'll be there soon. Bye.

I then used the skills that ALL of my medical training gave me and made my diagnosis even before I went to go pick up my patient. I deduced that my patient didn't need to have people looking at her like she was diseased all day, which would happen if I left her at school. I picked up my ecstatic patient and we are headed off to McDonald's for lunch and an afternoon of shoe shopping and Easy-Bake oven-ing. Later.

P.S. I was right, she didn't have pinkeye. Maybe I am a medical professional after all