I'm betting it has nothing to do

with infectious disease. Maybe the rich plastic surgery patients getting tummy tucks etc don't want to sit next bald headed cancer patients because it makes them uncomfortable. On the other hand, maybe it is somewhat infection related - our most demanding hypochondriacs don't like mixing with the sickies. They want the first appointment in the morning or afternoon so "they aren't exposed to other people's germs." I always want to say, what about your germs that some immuno-suppressed patient has to be exposed to? And why should some weak elderly, 90 year old have to wait longer than you? They just don't have a clue. Some of our patients are so self-absorbed you wouldn't believe it. And they never fucking die of anything.