One of my attendings mentioned that she examined inmates routinely during her residency training.  These criminals would often sit in the same waiting room as regular patients, of course with supervision. After all, everyone needs eye care, right?

That anecdote reminded me that residents at one of the Georgian ophthalmology programs actually had a clinic in the local penitentiary. One day a week, the resident on service would sign in cataracts and other surgical cases in the “jail clinic”. In retrospect, it actually doesn’t sound too bad–no insurance issues to deal with (I’ve had my surgeries canceled because my patient didn’t have the right insurance) or accidental consumption of breakfast the day of surgery. Having prison inmates as your patients is a great system. They actually show up to your clinic on time and do what they are told. As their physicians, we’d be contributing to the governmental system.

In fact, my residency shares many similarities to that of a prison clinic. Last month, I examined an open globe laceration in the ED, similar to what I’d see in prison fights. Another one of my clinic patients came into the ED handcuffed (and foot-cuffed) to the exam chair. The only difference between my patients and those at the prison is that the cops guarding my patients are smoking outside the hospital while I am alone examining the criminal. What fun.

Indeed this is an exciting moment in my training career…

medicine, misc humor, ophthalmology