A Reddit post about a doctor who routinely arrived late for appointments has sparked a debate about whether medical offices respect patients’ time. The post, shared on r/mildlyinfuriating, described a particularly frustrating appointment and had received more than 7,700 upvotes and 595 comments at the time of publication.
The patient said their child uses a wheelchair and vomited during the drive to the appointment. Heavy construction also slowed traffic nearby, causing the patient to arrive late. According to the post, the doctor typically made patients wait about an hour.
Rather than overlooking the delay, the doctor confronted the patient. The doctor reportedly said, “You guys have made me cancel three of my meetings.” The doctor then asked the patient to respect their time at future appointments. The patient described the doctor’s manner as “the most passive aggressive tone.”
Doctor’s Late Appointments Become the Bigger Issue
The patient said the criticism felt unfair because the doctor frequently ran late and rarely kept to scheduled appointment times. They clarified that they held no grudge against doctors or other healthcare workers, but felt frustrated that the doctor treated one late arrival differently from the delays patients regularly experienced.
The patient acknowledged arriving late, but said the doctor still accepted the appointment, ordered X-rays and continued with the visit. That detail did little to settle the discussion, as many Reddit users focused on what they viewed as a double standard.
One commenter compared the situation with job interviews, joking that people are punished for arriving late after being expected to arrive early. Another user said they once waited 90 minutes before their therapist confronted them and accused them of harassing front-desk staff. The Daily Dot could not independently verify that account.
Other commenters shared similar experiences involving doctors, dentists, therapists and other healthcare providers. One person said a doctor kept them waiting while complaining about patients arriving early. The doctor reportedly entered the room carrying a Starbucks breakfast.
Another Reddit user described an 8 a.m. appointment that began more than an hour late. The practice later admitted that the doctor rarely arrived before 9 a.m.
Some commenters defended doctors and healthcare workers. One user said physicians often spend additional time reviewing patient files. Another explained that emergencies and unexpected complications can delay appointments throughout the day.
Still, several users argued that medical offices should communicate when delays occur. They said patients deserve the same consideration when circumstances make them late.
The discussion also turned to cancellation fees. Several commenters criticized healthcare providers that charge patients for late cancellations. One person said they paid a $100 cancellation fee while seriously ill and attended the appointment anyway because they could not afford the penalty.
The Daily Dot was unable to independently verify the events described in the post or the identities of those involved. The details reflect the account shared on r/mildlyinfuriating.
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