My ear and the quack

A couple of weeks ago, I got another ear infection, so I went to see my doctor, who took a look with his little implement only to confirm that yes I did have an ear infection and after a little chat he prescribed some drops for me.  So I dutifully went to the chemist's and bought the drops. I then administered them once.  Now, from time to time, I read the leaflets inside the medicine packet and that is exactly what I did on this occasion.  To my horror, I read that, in capital letters, anyone with a perforated ear drum should not administer the drops.  I called the surgery and talked to the practice manager.  I asked her to ask the doctor what I should do.  She talked to him and he called me.  I briefly outlined what he had done and he said, I didn't see a perforation.  I said I've had a perforated ear drum, since I was five years of age.  I am fairly sure that he hadn't read the letters he has received from the specialist at the John Radcliffe Hospital in Oxford, which explained my problem in medical terms, because he never mentioned them.  And if he had he would realised that my ear condition is rather serious.  Otherwise, I wouldn't be seeing the specialist.

Anyway, I asked him what I should do and he said I should call into the surgery that evening and collect another prescription.  I did that.  I was shocked though, that he didn't suggest that I called into his surgery for him to take another look at my ear for him to understand the mistake he made.  I find that shocking. It is also a shocking that I had to pay for two prescriptions, a total of more than £13 when I should only have paid for one.

DW