The Friendly Restaurant Owner

 

 

Dr. Dev (fictional name) came early to the hospital. He called his surgical unit’s junior resident Dr. Vijay (fictional name) to come for the ward round. Dr. Vijay replied on his mobile phone that he and his fellow junior resident were eating breakfast at the small husband and wife operated restaurant just across the hospital, as he was on emergency night duty last night and become free just some time ago.

When the junior resident came to the ward, a curios Dr. Dev wanted to know why did they go to this particular restaurant and did not have their breakfast in the hostel mess.

Dr. Vijay, the junior resident replied that the owner’s wife herself makes a very tasty breakfast of paranthas with plenty of Ghee (Indian Butter). Being regular customers with a friendly nature himself, the junior resident and his friend had also they had gotten very friendly with the owner-couple and they used to even have friendly banter between them while having breakfast.

A few days again Dr. Dev reached the hospital ward earlier than usual. He phoned Dr. Vijay,  the junior resident to come for the ward round. Dr. Vijay replied that he and his friend had come for breakfast at a restaurant some distance away from the hospital and will reach the hospital shortly.

When Dr. Vijay reached the ward, Dr. Dev wanted to know why they had gone to have breakfast at the restaurant far away from the hospital, when they were having such an excellent breakfast at the restaurant just across the street.

The junior resident replied that the breakfast was very tasty in the restaurant across the street and it was also very convenient and time-saving being so near the hospital. The problem occurred that the owner-couple got too friendly with the junior resident and his friend and start talking to them in a manner suitable only among real friends and not the dignified doctors they were.

One particular morning the owner made a remark which Dr. Vijay’s friend felt was particularly unsuitable for a future neurosurgeon and feeling offended he refused to ever go there in the future. So now Dr. Vijay and his friend had to go to a restaurant some distance from the hospital but here they are treated as honored customers and not as some informal friends.

Most businesses like to form a friendly relationship with their customers to increase their loyalty and support to their business. But there can be something as being over-familiarity. They should not forget the customer is always customer first and a friend later and deserves an appropriate dignified behavior.

You never know when they may feel offended by your informal friendly behavior and take their business elsewhere if they feel they are not getting the respect they deserve.

— ND

(Based on allegedly true incident.)

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DISCLAIMER: This article is intended only for fun purposes. The author does not promote or recommend any behavior illustrated here or claim it to be useful. Use the information herein is at your one's own risk. Before trying to emulate or follow anything the reader is well advised to take into account ethical, moral, legal, and other considerations. The author recommends that Medical Practice should be of the highest ethical and moral level keeping in mind the interest of the patient as foremost. 

DISCLAIMER: This article is intended only for fun purposes. The author does not promote or recommend any behavior illustrated here or claim it to be useful. Use the information herein is at your one's own risk. Before trying to emulate or follow anything the reader is well advised to take into account ethical, moral, legal, and other considerations. The author recommends that Medical Education should be of the highest ethical and moral level keeping in mind the interest of the patient as foremost and according to NMC and other Board norms.