One of my closest friends is a doctor, an OBGYN. We hang out on the racquetball court every evening and enjoy a good workout. And if there’s one thing she can be counted on to do, it’s to arrive late, each and every day. It doesn’t matter what time we fix for our games – if it’s 4 pm, she doesn’t show up before 4.30; if we push it back to 4.30, our game starts only by 5. I don’t blame her for this folly; after all, it’s the uncertainty and randomness associated with her profession that forces her to be this way.

In all my dealings with doctors, both professional and personal, I’ve noticed that punctuality is a trait that’s almost always missing in action. And most of the time, it’s not their fault. After all, it would be medically and morally unethical to turn away a patient just because your practice hours are over and you have to rush to make another appointment or get back home to your family, especially if the injury or illness needs immediate attention.

And that pretty much characterizes the lives of doctors, especially those who deal with branches of medicine that are prone to emergencies and life-threatening illnesses. The ophthalmologists and chiropractors are less likely to be faced with do-or-die situations, so they’re able to lead a more or less stable life.

It’s not the case though for general practitioners, especially those who live out in the countryside and in rural areas. Their practices are usually the only ones available for miles, and they have to treat all kinds of ailments, both perceived and real. If you think they lead laidback lifestyles, you need to think again. My uncle is one such doctor; he’s one of the most respected and revered people in the small town where he lives, because he’s on call 24 hours a day. Not officially, but since the whole town knows where he lives, they take the liberty of calling on him at any hour of the day.

While it’s ok if they seek his help during a valid emergency during non-office hours, there are some people who turn up at his doorstep after it’s dark to undergo routine checkups or treat something as minor as a common cold. Apparently, they’ve been taking care of routine tasks during the day and have found the time to visit the doctor only after hours, little taking into consideration the fact that medical professionals too have a personal life, one they would like to live undisturbed.

My uncle is a genial sort, so he tolerates this kind of intrusion. Not so my aunt; so when things began to get out of hand, she came up with a plan. She made a list of all those who came seeking medical attention for something that could wait till the next working day for a week, and then she went visiting, after hours. If it was the local grocer, she went asking for a pound of meat and a quart of milk “immediately”. And if it was the barber, she took her son for an “emergency” haircut at 9 pm. A few weeks of this did the trick; their evenings were peaceful again!