Trick or Treat - a survival guide to health care
2 Debt: Mine or Yours? The Fox and the Goat: A fox slipped into a deep well by accident. He was
wondering how he could get out. Soon a thirsty goat peeped in and asked if the
water was good. "Excellent," replied the fox, "it is very tasty. Come in and try it
out for yourself.” The goat jumped into the well and quenched its thirst. When he started wondering how to climb out, the fox told him, "You stand on your hind legs
and put your forelegs on the wall. I shall climb on you and get out. Then I shall
help you out.” The goat did as he was told and the fox climbed out. He told the goat, "To help myself out, I had to get you into the well. Thank you for being so
gullible," and ran away.
Ammasai, a 40-year old petty businessman, went to a newly started posh clinic for
consultation. After examining him, the consultant said, "You got chest pain. It could lead to a heart attack. We can't take chances. Get admitted now,” and sent him to the ward.
After a while, the admitting doctor approached the consultant and said, "Sir. He is
not rich. He says he had to take a loan even to pay the consulting fee. Should we have to admit him? After all, he seems to have only pectoral myalgia (a form of muscle ache)."
The consultant replied, "Don't be silly. Grow up. You are worried about other
people getting into debt, but what about the loan I have taken to build this clinic? I am in a deeper debt than you know. Just admit him. He will get the money from somewhere."
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