Escape!

Traumatic!  That’s what it was.

This morning a patient from one of our illustrious penal institutes was scheduled to see my partner.  We don’t usually see these patients anymore – we used to regularly but found the entrance of a prisoner in shackles through the waiting room of children or older people was not much of a practice builder.  So we started bringing the prisoners in through the back entrance. 

We stopped treating these patients when it became obvious to us that most of them just wanted out for a trip rather than actual dental treatment.  So they would get to our office and decide that they didn’t want to have anything done that day.  Or there would be no problem to treat – the imaginary toothache has disappeared.

Today was an exceptional day.  My partner had seen the patient in the past.  The patient requested to see him again.  Out of the goodness in my partners heart and our willingness to bend our less than rigid rules, he was scheduled for first thing this morning.

Today became an exceptionally traumatic day.  The patient requested to use the washroom.  The guard who was by himself took him there in his hand and leg shackles.  Our washroom has no windows.  Should be OK right?  After a few minutes alone in the washroom, the prisoner threw open the door, knocked the guard down and ran.  Shackles have been removed somehow.  Right there in front of our reception staff.  One of them was shaking in the back room after. 

It will be a long time before our receptionists book any more prisoners! 

My next patient didn’t show up.  So I came home for an hour.  I didn’t think the whole incident affected me that much but it feels good to write it down and get it off my chest. 

Update:  Randall provided me with a link to one of our local news stations.  Check it out here.