Morning surgery: Saved senior citizen's mobility.
Afternoon: His son negotiating 40% discount because "pension limitations."
Evening: Son's Mercedes in parking lot.
iPhone. Luxury watch. Premium car.
But when it's time to pay for surgery that restored his father's walking?
"Doctor, fees is too high. We're simple people."
Here's what 25 years taught me:
Patients who deserve discounts rarely ask.
Patients who demand discounts rarely deserve them.
The ones who truly struggle say "fees is high" but hesitate to negotiate.
Why?
They value what you're giving them.
The Mercedes crowd?
They don't value your service.
They value their savings.
They'll negotiate ₹50,000 off your fees, then spend ₹80,000 on their next vacation.
I stopped haggling.
First negotiation attempt = polite decline.
Second attempt = show them the door.
"But doctor, people will call you greedy!"
They already do.
While counting notes from their designer wallet.
Your surgical precision saved mobility.
Their negotiation tactics won't save your dignity.
Draw boundaries or stay broke.
The choice was always yours.
ItsBiswajitDB