A Calgary based orthopedic surgeon says people are constantly trying to use their connections to get quicker medical attention and he says that won't change anytime soon.
Dr. Nicholas Mohtadi says he and other doctors will occasionally make time to offer medical advice to friends and colleagues who ask for it.
He says if he does do a medical consult as a favour, he does it on his own time outside of office hours so that it doesn't have an impact on patients waiting to see him.
He also says more resources need to be out into the medical system to prevent this from happening.
Dr. Mohtadi says it could be simply someone he's golfing with asking for advice or someone at the gym who thinks they may need surgery.
Speaking at the Alberta Health Service inquiry into queue jumping, Dr. Mohtadi says requests for preferential treatment are the result of unclear definitions within the health system.
“It's always happened and will continue to happen,” says Dr. Mohtadi. “I think the reason we are here is because we haven't been able to define what is appropriate or the best way to see people so it shouldn't matter if you are a friend if a politicians or doctor or a professional athlete.”
He says if the waiting lists for orthopedic surgery and consultation weren't so long this wouldn't be an issue. Dr. Mohtadi believes people will continue to ask doctors for advice until changes to the system are made.
