Would you care for a nice glass of riesling with your watery tapioca pudding? Or perhaps a splash of shiraz after surgery?
A hospital in Indiana is allowing patients to wash down their hospital food with a glass of wine, as long as they or their family members provide it, the Associated Press reports.
The unorthodox policy has raised some eyebrows within the health industry, but the Parkview Ortho Hospital in Fort Wayne maintains alcohol will only be allowed for those who have their doctors' approval.
A Parkview Health spokesman told the media the measure wasn't intended to attract patients to the facility. But according to the AP report, competition among hospitals has increased over the years to the point where some now offer perks like valet parking and steak dinners.
Perhaps unsurprisingly, Parkview's alcohol policy is popular among its patients who enjoy having wine with their meals.
"You'd be amazed how many people do that," William Berghoff, a doctor at the hospital, told AP.
What was your worst hospital meal? Can wine make a bad meal better?