If you think listening to Carly Rae Jepsen in a hospital waiting room is bad (Sweating with fear, I waited to hear the doctor’s verdict. Then the radio started playing Call Me Maybe …, 13 March), try being wheeled in for an abortion to the sound of – I kid you not – Barry White. A moment so surreal that I often think I must have imagined it. But I know it happened because it was before they gave me the drugs. Everything went smoothly, as you can imagine.
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Eight years ago in Fairbanks, Alaska, I was about to go under to have a cataract removed. I was asked what music I’d like. The Buena Vista Social Club, I replied. Less than 60 seconds later, I drifted off to those warm notes before I had time to be surprised that first, the specialist knew of it, and second, that they had it to hand. I like to think my improved eyesight owes a little to that relaxing music.
Flora Grabowska
Crovie, Aberdeenshire
My husband had a similar experience while waiting to pick up a prescription at a hospital about five years ago. The canned music was playing I Wanna Be Sedated by the Ramones.
Katie McKenna
Sacramento, California, US
My husband once attended an appointment where the waiting room radio was playing The Drugs Don’t Work.
Margaret Coupe
Longnor, Staffordshire
My vasectomy was performed during a run-up to Christmas to the strains of Ding Dong Merrily on High, God Rest Ye Merry Gentlemen and Hallelujah Chorus.
John Gray
York
I agree: the default position for patients should be silence. Indeed, our surgery plays local radio stations, complete with advertising and DJ drivel. But not as bad as a pub we visited where the background was also local radio: a phone-in about sexually transmitted disease.
Roger Davis
Dilton Marsh, Wiltshire
When our surgery began to play a pop music station I was told it was to ensure privacy – it doesn’t. For this patient at least, loud music is neither soothing nor reassuring.
Marie Paterson
Nuneaton, Warwickshire
