This experience is well covered by the generalizations listed in what many others have already said, but I thought I would share it anyway since the anecdotes/stories are memorable (haha, so meta):
In short, I had to take a friend’s pet to a veterinary hospital while the friend was out of state. To determine what to do, I spoke with the vet with my friend (owner) over the speaker phone.
The doctor gave him a 3-minute summary in which he briefly revealed possible actions. About 20 seconds after the speech started I thought, “Oh, Dang, she won’t stop and my friend doesn’t have a chance at hearing everything.” So I immediately filled a memory palace with all the details, repeating it to the doctor at the end of her speech. I misunderstood one thing, but all the other details were correct. She even joked, “Wow, 99%, you’re going to get an A+,”
The doctor walked out of the room to let my friend and I talk. “I don’t know, the connection wasn’t that good,” My friend said. So I repeat them again, slowly guiding them through the possibilities. My friend came to the conclusion (euthanasia when the owner returned to the city, unfortunately was the most humane option).
It’s not that this is the best way this can happen. Other options include:
- The doctor may have spoken more slowly
- I may have tried to take notes on my phone.
- I could be better prepared with pen and paper
- the doctor could stay and answer my friend’s questions
- the doctor could write an outline or something
But that didn’t happen, so I’m glad I got that shiny hammer!