Mr. P had gotten used to the breathlessness when he climbed stairs and the hacking, dry cough that followed him everywhere. What else could he expect after smoking three packs a day since he was six years old? But he had shown up in the emergency department earlier that afternoon, ended the decades-long standoff he'd held with the health care system, because whatever this was made him feel like he was about to die. 

Patients expect their doctors to espouse the same good habits that we foist upon you in the form of expert advice. We aren't always great at following through. But when the habit is getting a flu shot every year - and the repercussions clearly extend beyond our own health - I'd say we have a larger-than-usual responsibility to comply.

This year's Flupocalypse has hit harder than expected, prompting our mayor and others to declare states of emergency and journalists to beg Americans to get their flu shots (as of November, 65% hadn’t) with varying degrees of politeness. Of all people, those of us who have pledged to care for and protect vulnerable patients should get that message, so it still amazes me when I hear excuses to the contrary.