A regular biopsy is where the physician uses a
metal device to invade the patient's body or tissues until the tip of the device reaches a certain location inside the body. The tip of the biopsy device is mechanically capable of snipping or clipping a sample of flesh in the area of concern. In the usual case, the physician
will have reviewed the results of a non-invasive diagnostic
test, such as an X-ray or a CT scan and the
doctor will have seen something on the radiology results which has stimulated a professional need in the
doctor's mind to know exactly what type of tissue exists in the area of concern. A biopsy therefore is the use of the
metal device to pinch off or otherwise obtain a piece of the tissue from inside the body and to remove the tissue so that it can be analyzed at a pathology lab to assist the
doctor in making an accurate diagnosis.
A wallet biopsy involves an inquiry similar to that of the regular biopsy noted above except that in the wallet biopsy the goal is to determine the ability of the patient to pay for the medical care which the doctor might recommend.The results of the wallet biopsy
will reveal the nature and extent of the patient's health insurance coverage and/or the extent of the patient's personal wealth so that the doctor
will know whether or not the patient can afford to pay the freight for the procedure.
Intern
X: I believe that I can operate on the patient so as to stitch the bladder securely to the pubis bone so that the bladder
will no longer be able to slosh down onto the
top of the birth canal. The loose connective tissue of the bladder has allowed the bladder to move out of place so as to put pressure on the birth canal which is pushing vaginal wall tissue out into the
pussy.
Senior Dr.Y: Hand me the WB Wallet Biopsy file.
