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"Couponic Plague"-A New and Potentially Devastating Medical Condition

by Ronald Feiner

We have recently entered the era of “couponised” goods and services. I have never been a fan of these sorts of incentivations. However it is easy to understand the entrepreneurial “pull” of these schemes. It is basically a case of get the punter through the door with the promise of a value added experience (albeit generally a one-time-only incentive).

However one would have imagined that the coupon-marketed discount delivery of medical services would be considered professionally inappropriate.
http://www.medicalboard.gov.au/documents/default.aspx?record=WD10%2f2669&dbid=AP&chksum=3W%2fN5vWpGoe0K892YW9sFw%3d%3d 
From the above link the medical board would consider this apparently so. Will the appropriate authorities police the statutes? Don’t hold your breath! 

The intention to avail oneself of a medical service (cosmetic or otherwise) should be made with a gravitas that is commensurate with the health and well-being implications of a medical procedure, rather than on the dubious rationale of a discount online coupon.
While value for service is naturally an issue and consideration for patients, the success of a boutique style practice (such as ours) depends almost entirely on a reputation for a high standard of work and a welcoming practice atmosphere. 
One can only ponder the motivation for a medical practice (cosmetic or otherwise) to couponise its services. Arguably medical practice has never been more trivialised.
Perhaps we are destined to see a new medical malardy-“Couponic Plague”-scores of disaffected, disappointed and emotionally wrecked patients arriving like boat people refugees at our doors for cosmetic salvation. Julia and/or Tony may become obliged to conjure up a “solution”. If only Nicola would have selected her own medical board’s link (again): http://www.medicalboard.gov.au/documents/default.aspx?record=WD10%2f2669&dbid=AP&chksum=3W%2fN5vWpGoe0K892YW9sFw%3d%3d