Number of hits for a Google search on "complimentary medicine"? More than 7,000. For "complementary medicine"? About 137,000. That’s an error rate of around 5%, committed by folk who presumably have an interest in complementary medicine. At least an interest: one of these sites calls itself the National College of Complimentary Medicine and Sciences. Sigh.
But I think complimentary medicine is a great idea, particularly with health-care systems all over the world entering a financial crisis.
"No, no. You don’t need surgery for that hernia - it suits you so well!"
"That high blood pressure really brings out the colour in your cheeks. Don’t you dare go lowering it!"

Grant

Worried about cost containment, are we?  I saw a cartoon recently.  Sign at an HMO:  "Pick witch doctor you want."  Receptionist to customer:"No, that’s not a misprint."

(HMO = Health Maintenance Organization, which provides health care for a flat fee, charging only a small co-pay for office visits, prescriptions, etc.)

[quote author=granthutchison link=board=spell;num=1033856061;start=0#0 date=10/05/02 at 18:14:21]
But I think complimentary medicine is a great idea, particularly with health-care systems all over the world entering a financial crisis.

"All doctors’ services shall be rendered free of charge from now on—compliments of the medical profession."

I’m all for it. I’ll bring it up with my health insurance.

Ilka

[quote author=ilka link=board=spell;num=1033856061;start=0#2 date=10/06/02 at 04:32:56]compliments of the medical profession.

It’s odd how complimentary has now more or less come to mean "free".
There’s the story of the guy sitting at a bar who hears someone say: "That’s a nice tie." When he looks around, no-one’s there.
A minute later, he hears: "Nice haircut. It really suits you." Still no-one there.
He calls over the barman and tells him he’s hearing this mysterious voice.
"Must be the peanuts," says the barman. "They’re complimentary."

Grant

I asked my doctor for a second opinion.

Very well, he said, You’re also fat and ugly.

Too funny!  ;D

<"That high blood pressure really brings out the colour in your cheeks. Don’t you dare go lowering it!"> Hate to disillusion you, Grant, but the redness of the cheeks (nose ?) probably has more to do with capillary distension than with high blood pressure. <Don’t you dare stop drinking !> would be the appropriate admonition….

[quote author=M._Henri_Day link=board=spell;num=1033856061;start=0#6 date=11/15/02 at 13:50:50]<"That high blood pressure really brings out the colour in your cheeks. Don’t you dare go lowering it!"> Hate to disillusion you, Grant, but the redness of the cheeks (nose ?) probably has more to do with capillary distension than with high blood pressure. <Don’t you dare stop drinking !> would be the appropriate admonition….

ah, you obviously haven’t met some of the purple-faced hypertensives that dog my professional existence ... they get a bit of heart failure, and then their venous pressures rise, and then those capillaries fill up with nice purple blood, just as you describe.

Grant