# Death is not an option: AMPUTATION! **URL:** \ **Category:** In My Humble Opinion\ **Created:** [December 22, 2011, 3:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/death-is-not-an-option-amputation/607080 "2011-12-22T15:17:25Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 12\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![x-ray\_vision](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/x-ray_vision/32/351_2.png) [@x-ray\_vision](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/x-ray_vision)\ **Post date:** [December 22, 2011, 9:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/death-is-not-an-option-amputation/607080/21 "2011-12-22T21:31:34Z")
> [@Ike\_Witt](#): > > What kind of people say thumbs? The kind that consider the much greater potential for pain and complications, such as death, coming from having someone hack off their leg with a hatchet? Sure, I’d rather have a prosthetic lower leg than two missing thumbs, but thinking about the way the choice is phrased changes things a bit. Some guy is going to either hack off two of my thumbs which I can wrap up with pieces of my shirt and get medical attention (can I?), or he’s going to hack off my lower leg possibly at a level where my femoral artery can cause me to bleed to death, especially if I pass out and can’t fashion a tourniquet. I’d need to know more about the situation I’m in, e.g., can I fashion a tourniquet before hand, can I get immediate or close to immediate medical attention, etc., before I can be more sure of what my choice would be. ---
**Author:** ![Ibanez](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/a4c791/32.png) [@Ibanez](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ibanez)\ **Post date:** [December 23, 2011, 7:37am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/death-is-not-an-option-amputation/607080/22 "2011-12-23T07:37:55Z")
How am I suppose to open pickle jars without my thumbs ? Bye bye leg. ---
**Author:** ![Annie-Xmas](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/ecc23a/32.png) [@Annie-Xmas](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Annie-Xmas)\ **Post date:** [December 23, 2011, 2:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/death-is-not-an-option-amputation/607080/23 "2011-12-23T14:24:49Z")
You know, your big toe can be used to replace a missing [thumb](http://www.dailymail.co.uk/health/article-2068034/James-Byrne-thumb-replaced-big-toe-surgeons.html). So maybe “thumb” is the option here. ---
**Author:** ![Bosda\_Di\_Chi\_of\_Tricor](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bosda_di_chi_of_tricor/32/16845_2.png) [@Bosda\_Di\_Chi\_of\_Tricor](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bosda_Di_Chi_of_Tricor)\ **Post date:** [December 23, 2011, 4:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/death-is-not-an-option-amputation/607080/24 "2011-12-23T16:50:17Z")
And now, the memories of the nutcase who wanted his/her arms chopped off & replaced with steel hooks leaps to mind. Ah, the Good Old Days™ here at the SDMB! Anybody got a link to that Thread? ---
**Author:** ![Enderw24](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/ba9def/32.png) [@Enderw24](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Enderw24)\ **Post date:** [December 23, 2011, 5:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/death-is-not-an-option-amputation/607080/25 "2011-12-23T17:04:08Z")
> [@Munch](#): > > Will I get to replace them with DORRANCE #5X STAINLESS STEEL HOOKS? Nice. ---
**Author:** ![Astroboy14](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/df705f/32.png) [@Astroboy14](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Astroboy14)\ **Post date:** [December 23, 2011, 7:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/death-is-not-an-option-amputation/607080/26 "2011-12-23T19:37:42Z")
Gonna be hard to masturbate, er, I mean um… tie my shoes without thumbs! ---
**Author:** ![Enderw24](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/ba9def/32.png) [@Enderw24](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Enderw24)\ **Post date:** [December 23, 2011, 7:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/death-is-not-an-option-amputation/607080/27 "2011-12-23T19:41:13Z")
> [@Astroboy14](#): > > Gonna be hard to masturbate, er, I mean um… tie my shoes without thumbs! In fairness, it’s equally hard to tie your shoes missing a leg. ---
**Author:** ![beowulff](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/beowulff/32/542_2.png) [@beowulff](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/beowulff)\ **Post date:** [December 23, 2011, 7:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/death-is-not-an-option-amputation/607080/28 "2011-12-23T19:46:06Z")
Can I at least choose my [gammy leg?](http://www.intriguing.com/mp/_scripts/lifeboat.php) ---
**Author:** ![Munch](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/munch/32/5281_2.png) [@Munch](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Munch)\ **Post date:** [December 24, 2011, 2:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/death-is-not-an-option-amputation/607080/29 "2011-12-24T14:07:37Z")
> [@Enderw24](#): > > Nice. I’d say there’s a 1:1 ratio of voluntary amputation references on this board to my appearance and referencing the DORRANCE lady. ---
**Author:** ![UFC\_Is\_Sux](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/u/46a35a/32.png) [@UFC\_Is\_Sux](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/UFC_Is_Sux)\ **Post date:** [December 24, 2011, 2:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/death-is-not-an-option-amputation/607080/30 "2011-12-24T14:11:22Z")
The leg would have to go. Then I would inflict equal or greater damage on the sadistic so-and-so who made me make such a choice. I make my living with my hands and maiming them is not an option for me. ---
**Author:** ![Atomic\_Mama](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/b5ac83/32.png) [@Atomic\_Mama](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Atomic_Mama)\ **Post date:** [December 24, 2011, 2:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/death-is-not-an-option-amputation/607080/31 "2011-12-24T14:45:39Z")
My mom lost both her legs. One was amputated mid-calf; the other above the knee. Complications of Type I diabetes. She went through rehab; learned how to walk again (with a prosthesis, after the mid-calf amputation), but not after the above the knee job. She never left the house again. She was valiant, and died far too young (age 53). I’m 62. It’s Christmas season and I miss her. ---
**Author:** ![Maiira](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/f04885/32.png) [@Maiira](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Maiira)\ **Post date:** [December 25, 2011, 7:47am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/death-is-not-an-option-amputation/607080/32 "2011-12-25T07:47:14Z")
Leg. When it really comes down to it, I’d rather lose the use of my legs than my arms/hands. Legs and feet are mostly used for basic contact with the ground (well, and balance, I guess), but it seems to me that hands just plain DO more. The biggest risk with the leg that I can see is the possibility of hitting an artery, though I suppose it wouldn’t be as big an issue if the amputation was at or below the knee. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/death-is-not-an-option-amputation/607080.md?page=1)