Patients or customers?

PATIENTS or CUSTOMERS? A businessman and his friend who works as hospital administrator were seen and heard arguing over a few bottles of beer. The businessman called the hospital patients customers, while the hospital admin insisted they are patients. The argument got so heated up, the wives of both protagonists decided to break up the argument without the issue being settled in anyone’s favor.

DEBATE. The same issue was also the subject of a debate between two groups of students in Manila some years ago. The debate also ended with no group winning. “So hospital customers continue to be called patients,” said an Ear source.