Hand me that wrench!

I have always found the job description of a physician and an auto-mechanic strikingly similar. And a pediatrician even more so. I'm not implying that human life and a vehicle are equally valuable, just that the work environment of a mechanic is surprisingly familiar to mine.

How?

Well, to name a few things:

• Your 'patient' often arrives in a big vehicle with flashing lights
• You need a detailed history of the symptoms and past troubles
• You have a 'patient' that can't speak or describe anything
  
• Your 'patient' is likely to leak smelly filthy substances which you diligently collect and analyze
  
• Overheating is always a bad sign
• Yearly check-ups are crucial to avoid problems
  
• In the waiting room sit the anxious worrying 'parents' with many questions
  
• Insurance companies dictate what you can and cannot do
• The bill is usually much more than they expect, but they pay anyway

Still, when I saw this in another visit to a Beirut car repair shop, I couldn't help but feel this parallel is getting a little scary: