Tips for Surgery

check first that the doctor didn't leave a sponge inside of you.

Nope. You don't tip doctors/professionals - most of them would find it awkward/inappropriate. You express gratitude. For example, what Letterman did after his heart surgery was appropriate & classy ( bringing his doctors to the show ). Thank-you card with the flowers or a nice bottle of alcohol is a common token of gratitude. Some people give tickets to a game, ski vacation - but doctors might not find it acceptable. However, just stating how much you appreciate the doctor's professionalism and care goes a long way - doctors don't expect anything back from the patient ( other than appreciation AND following doctor's orders ).

"You don't tip doctors/professionals"

Could you define "professional"?

professional - doctor, engineer, lawyer

So those are EXAMPLES of professionals, or is that the definitive list?

just examples.

So without a definitive list of what constitutes a "professional", how am I supposed to know whether or not to tip them?

to bad he didn't slip (the surgeon that is).

You can tip whomever you want to tip.

Find out what his/her interests are and gift accordingly. Air miles are always good.

"You can tip whomever you want to tip."

Actually, you can't.

At some point, the recipient of your tip sees the tip as elitist and condescending.

One tip at a time, Matt. 10023, tried tipping cops?

Matt: That's because you're not giving the right thing. For a "highly" compensated individual (I suppose you would include building workers in this group), money's not going to do it. But there are all kinds of things you can give that aren't cash. Does your heart surgeon like to golf? Maybe a couple of days at a golf resort somewhere, or a GC for new clubs.

Ags: Trying to get me in trouble :)?

"For a "highly" compensated individual"

Could you define "highly compensated" please? Just so I'll know how to tip (and whether to tip) accordingly.

Apparently there's some sort of guide I'm not aware of ...

I tip everyone. Gotta problem with that? Don't care if you're loaded or highly compensated.

You didn't answer the question. What's "highly compensated"?

I refer you to J. Potter Stewart:

The phrase was famously used by United States Supreme Court Justice Potter Stewart to describe his threshold test for pornography in Jacobellis v. Ohio (1964). Obscenity is not protected speech under the First Amendment of the United States Constitution, and can therefore be censored.

You still didn't answer the question. What's "highly compensated"?

I know it when I see it. I don't need to come up with a litmus test of some kind.

But apparently you DO need to come up with a litmus test. There are all these "rules" about tipping that people keep referring to ...

That wasn't me. I don't have any rules. If I feel like it, I tip. If the movers are cute, I tip more.

BTW, the NYC doctors I know personally all feel "poor" for whatever that's worth.

"If I feel like it, I tip. If the movers are cute, I tip more."

Ah. So now we're edging into prostitution ...

"BTW, the NYC doctors I know personally all feel "poor" for whatever that's worth."

So they SHOULD be tipped, then?

I think you should not tip, Matt, because it makes you unhappy.

you shouldn't give surgeons cash tips but you should send a nice note and put them on your xmas card list. if surgeon you plan to see somewhat regularly throughout your life like a plastic surgeon send include bottle of nice booze with note and if you're a habitual dinner party giver, invite him to your new face coming out party with other guests you would not object to knowing about your freshening up.

sorry someone already said the thing about note+booze. well, that's what you're supposed to do.

"But apparently you DO need to come up with a litmus test."

there is one. you tip the blue collar regular personal provider of your services. you send a note+booze to the white collar regular personal providers of your services. sheesh, people.

Wow Matt who says we should NEVER tip doormen and concierges for "doing what they are already paid to do" wants to tip a doctor who is paid ten times as much? RETARDED.

"10023, tried tipping cops?"

best to make anonymous calls to crime stoppers. note+booze optional.

The litmus test is easy, BTW. You NEVER tip a government employee or someone regulated by the SEC or CFTC. That would be criminal. You never tip anyone who earns commission, since the two are equivalent. Finally, you never tip someone in a profession that requires a college or advanced degree.

"Finally, you never tip someone in a profession that requires a college or advanced degree."

So teachers should never be given gifts or gratuities of any kind.

Same goes for any and all attorneys at closings.

does Obamacare cover tips for health care professionals?....

Matt: No tips for surgery.

Hope you're feeling better soon.
(lay off of the gym-rat thing for a month or so.)

what an odd post...you don't tip doctors. However, gifts or thank you cards are a more appropriate way to show gratitude. People have given my father everything from fruit baskets to iPods. In fact, during Christmas, I'd say more than 1/2 of the gifts under the tree are for him from his patients!

Matt's off his meds again. He's got a hair up his ass about tipping workers in his building, has forbidden it, in fact, so just try to ignore him. I don't think he's dangerous but a real pita on the subject.

If Matt gets surgery for a hair up his ass...

I got your tip right here... (spinny, se holiday tip thread 2010)

Oh wait, I'm a straight female.

Nevermind.

Ok this thread needs to be deleted.

Yeah, huntersburg.

The silly-seeking se editor will have a laugh.
Whoever he/she is, se doesn't pay that person enough.

"So teachers should never be given gifts or gratuities of any kind.

Same goes for any and all attorneys at closings."

Tipping a teacher = BRIBING a teacher in my book. If I were a parent, I would be ourtraged if other kid's parents were "tipping" teachers. I am pretty sure that is not allowed.

Congs matt!
Happy to see you on the other side of that event.
Tip of the hat to anyone you want.
Send all the money to me.

Very glad you did well!

Speaking as a heart surgeon, a heartfelt letter of thanks is always great, which you can choose to copy to the department chairman, the hospital CEO and / or president. If your surgeon has an online listing write a positive review, and tell the cardiologist who referred you how happy you were.

A big team is involved - mentioning in any thank you letter other people (anesthesiologist, residents, nurses, physiotherapists) who looked after you well individually is a really nice touch and vanishingly rare. Gift baskets to the nurses on ICU and the floor are surprisingly unusual, and hugely appreciated. It doesn't have to be a massively expensive one - a 12 box of Dunkin Donuts and coffee goes a long way on ICU .

If you really want to give your surgeon a gift, then wine / sporting memorabilia / pens / watches can work (bit hit and miss). Some of my colleagues hang paintings and ornaments they've been given (I don't). With one or two exceptions your surgeon probably isn't going to hang out with you socially - so hold off the dinner invite / wedding invitation / round of golf.

If you want to give money then ask your surgeon about how to donate (or look online) - most such gifting is administered via the department research fund / philanthropy. This is somewhat different to trying to give your surgeon a tip (I can only think of one or two people that might might actually accept a tip from a patient), which is probably in contravention of most hospitals' compliance rules (although I appreciate the distinction is nuanced). You can be as specific or as vague as you like about the way your gift is spent. A small amount can make a big difference - it's amazing what doesn't get funded in hospitals), and a lot can change lives.

Hope this helps - it's a very generous thought (even if it's really just about your holiday doorman issues!)

Yeah, for any highly paid person - 1% if you will, I think a donation to their favorite charity is an acceptable "tip."

kylewest: "Oh God..."

jason: "Sweet Jesus this again."

I like the sweet Jesus thing. Gonna use it as my new saying.

wasn't this thread OP an obvious joke?

reallynow:
the OP may be one and the same as the 18mil man.

reallynow: Are you related to "wellheythere"?

I sure as hell gave my OB a bottle and a thank-you note after my daughter's birth.

this is a hilarious thread.
engineers are not professionals.
doctors, lawyers and some (high end ) accountants are.some wall streeters( 10%)
don't tip a doctor: you're not at the level. nowhere near. crystal/dom perignon is ok. as a token of appreciation.don't assume anything though. you can't intellectually compete.no offense.
Anyway don't consider it a tip. You can't tip a higher up. just show appreciation.As a lower down. and be thankful she takes it,

Good one Matt! I hope you didn't jinx yourself by joking about heart surgery though.

I was almost tempted to create a thread asking if house guests should tip their hosts.

How can one tell if a professional is not a recovering alcoholic?

How?

"You can't tip a higher up. just show appreciation.As a lower down. and be thankful she takes it,"

I don't mean to brag, but doctors to me are "lower down" on the socio-economic scale.

Does this mean I can tip them now?

Sunday: That's called bringing a house-gift to your host.
I bring nice scented candles, fancy towels, edibles (whatever they like to eat and drink) and my own supply of Charmin.

And an ounce of weed.