I fully understand why you did what you did in this scenario. I saw the exact same patient a few months ago, except swap out “flu” for “strep.” Screw the CENTOR criteria, mom saw a “pus pocket” on her tonsils. Lucky for me, the rapid Strep test was negative, and I got to leave it at that.

Who gets to judge when something is “clinically indicated”? You, the doctor. Not I (your faithful but long-suffering ER nurse) and not the patient.

I think instant gratification is the most American of human desires.

I like the idea of selling influenza tests over-the-counter, but I’m sure you know that accessibility won’t keep people from presenting at the ER and demanding for “free” what they can buy at the dollar store.

Who gets to judge when something is “clinically indicated”? You? Popular vote? Some old curmudgeon at the FDA who hasn’t practiced medicine since the Civil War?
24% of people responding to the poll stated that they believed the care was not unnecessary in this case. Do we just disregard the opinions that we don’t like?

I’m not disagreeing with you that I wouldn’t have wanted testing or treatment for my own kids in this situation. My point is that once we start down this slippery slope, it will be difficult to keep from sliding further down.

Telling people that they can’t have things they want is OK when it applies to other people, but not so nice when it applies to you.

Simple solution is to deregulate and make the testing and medications over the counter. If people want to do 20 flu tests on themselves, they should be able to do so … at their expense.