By Elana Lavine
Date of Consultation: May 22, 2025.
UserID: Falcon346
[Pause]
Hello, this is unorthodox, but I’m trying to reach Arthur. I think he’s still working in medical transcription. [Pause] I’m one of the handful of wrinkled dinosaurs that don’t use hospital dictation software. I’m going to record this in the hopes that one of you, the humans that transcribe our letters, will direct it to him.
To Arthur. The tall one.
[ Pause ]
Hello Arthur. I’m still working here, you likely know that, even though I’m not operating any longer. My hands have started to shake. I’m still holding clinics, helping as much as I can, but it’s not a great long-term plan. I’m sure you can understand that, having had your own big career plans, and then working to serve tacos and type medical letters for doctors.
[Pause]
Sorry. (breathing) That sounded cruel, doesn’t it. I can’t help it, Arthur, it’s the way I was raised, and now it’s like a reflex. But I’m sorry, and I’ll try to catch myself when I do it. I hope you’re still listening, and this won’t be put on the Internet for my humiliation. It doesn’t matter, because they’ll retiring me soon. Last week I made a mistake on a prescription, and the pharmacist spoke to our division chief. I used to be the chief, now I’m a surgeon who can’t operate and has barely pubescent pharmacists checking my calculations.
Arthur, I know you have a big birthday soon. Your mother and I would like to see you. None of this is her fault, you know—and you probably do know that, I’m the one figuring it out. I shouldn’t have blocked her from seeing you, and I shouldn’t have sent that email. I was angry. A man wants his son to be successful, and maybe he loses track of what that means. I’m glad to hear you’re working, and painting. They showed me the ad for your show. It looks like a nice gallery, and I like the
[ pause ]
colors you used. Arthur, I’ve always lived in black and white and now I’m trying, so can you meet me halfway? Please think about it.
[pause]
Okay, that’s all.
[End of dictation]
Elana Lavine is a physician and writer in Toronto, who is currently querying a novel about the dark academia of medical school.
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