EclectEcon

Two patients limp into two different medical clinics
with the same complaint:

Both have trouble walking
and appear to require a hip replacement.

The first patient is examined within the hour, is
x-rayed the same day and has a time booked for
surgery the following week.

The second sees his family doctor after waiting a
week for an appointment, then waits eight weeks to see a
specialist, then gets an x-ray, which isn't reviewed
for another week, and finally has his surgery
scheduled for six weeks from then.

Why the different treatment for the two patients?

The first is a golden retriever.
The second is a senior citizen.