Sunday, August 09, 2009

I GOT it - A Certificate of Health

Oh me of little faith. I thought I was going to walk in a farmacia and a medico would be sitting behind the counter. I would pay him and he would give me a certificate. NOT.

Up the stairs I trudged of a clinic next to the farmacia. The painted sign on the outside of the building simply said Medico. Upstairs there was some residential furniture and four closed doors. Hmmmmm. What to do? After a soft knock, a Dr. opened the door and he was a pediatrician and said "Uno momento." When he finished with his patient, he walked over to another door and knocked and another Dr. came out and said the same thing, "Cinco minutos".

He did come out eventually and a complete physical - height, weight, blood pressure, temperature, reflexes, eye exam all were completed in about ten minutes time. He asked my blood type and then typed on his computer a certificate of health that will allow me to go on Monday morning at 9AM, hopefully, to get a driver's license.

Cost for the physical - cien pesos - about $8 US. Such a deal. But, as I sat there I did think about what a hassle this would be if everyone in the USA had to have a physical to drive. Can you imagine? The medical system would be in a bigger mess then it already is and I can hardly imagine what it would cost for that same piece of paper.

9 comments:

Paul said...

That's funny, in Sinaloa the only medical thing they require is a blood test for blood type, and he just asked you for yours.

Calypso said...

Don't give the U.S. any more ideas to pick the pockets of the proletariat. ;-0

Anonymous said...

Shhh!

I agree with Calypso...Don't give the AMA any ideas!

Money for mandatory physicals for drivers...harumph

Steve Cotton said...

Babs -- What a great idea! If the certificates were required to allow a person to drive, that means the doctor would be approving the driving itself. If that person had an accident, don't worry about suing the person who caused the accident, sue the doctor. Every blood-sucking trial attorney in America would name you their patron saint of perpetual wealth redistribution. You may get a seat in the cabinet with such progressive thinking.

Babs said...

Geez, I never thought of any of it the way ya'll did. And Steve, the only cabinet I want to be in would be a kitchen cabinet....tee he.

I was just thinking if people had to opay what you would have to pay in the USA, many people couldn't afford to have a driver's license.

Michael Dickson said...

Physicals after a certain age should be required to get a DL in the U.S. My mother was driving into her 80s until she had two crashes (luckily injuring no one but herself) and voluntarily quit driving.

Even after the second crash, the state did nothing to take her DL from her, as it obviously should have.

During visits to the U.S. my Mexican wife marvels at the old fogies who drive up there. The observant will notice that really old people (especially old women) are rarely seen behind the wheel in Mexico.

Michael Dickson said...

P.S. My mother died in January at age 90, so now she drives a chariot.

Anonymous said...
This comment has been removed by a blog administrator.
Tancho said...

Notice who the first one to bring up the "sue" word......our resident solicitor....