# Friend slices finger in half- docs turn him away **URL:** \ **Category:** The BBQ Pit\ **Created:** [April 5, 2005, 7:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/friend-slices-finger-in-half-docs-turn-him-away/297888 "2005-04-05T19:20:38Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![even\_sven](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/dfb087/32.png) [@even\_sven](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/even_sven)\ **Post date:** [April 5, 2005, 7:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/friend-slices-finger-in-half-docs-turn-him-away/297888/1 "2005-04-05T19:20:38Z")
My friend cut his finger severly with a machete while cutting a coconut last night. He severed an artery and most likely a few nerves. He was gushing blood. Luckly, he was across the street from a medical clinic when it happened. But, they didn’t accept cash. He had to get back, find a ride, and go several miles down the road to one of those “Doctors’R’Us” clinics- bleeding out of his severed artery the whole time, who staunched the blood, stiched him up, and sent him on his way. They didn’t perscribe him any meds, but he couldn’t have afforded them anyway. The anesthetic is just wearing off, and his finger feels exactly like a finger that has been cut nearly in half would feel. What the fuck country do we live in? How the fuck is it okay to send a guy away bleeding with his finger half dangling off? How the fuck is it okay to let people suffer completely needlessly because they don’t have a few bucks for pain meds? I didn’t know doctors could just turn you away when you are seriously hurt, but I guess they can. It’s fucked up. ---
**Author:** ![Ike\_Witt](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ike_witt/32/283_2.png) [@Ike\_Witt](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ike_Witt)\ **Post date:** [April 5, 2005, 7:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/friend-slices-finger-in-half-docs-turn-him-away/297888/2 "2005-04-05T19:38:03Z")
Man, if I had a dime for every story I’ve heard about a coconut, a machette and a severed finger - I’d have 20¢. ---
**Author:** ![Jackmannii](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jackmannii/32/311_2.png) [@Jackmannii](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jackmannii)\ **Post date:** [April 5, 2005, 7:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/friend-slices-finger-in-half-docs-turn-him-away/297888/3 "2005-04-05T19:40:48Z")
\*"Said “doctor, ain’t there nothin’ I can take?” I said “Doctor, to relieve this belly ache,” I said “Doctor, ain’t there nothin’ I can take?” I said “Doctor, to relieve this belly ache.” Now lemme get this straight, You put de lime in de coconut, you drank ‘em bot’ up, You put de lime in de coconut, you drank ‘em bot’ up, You put de lime in de coconut, you drank 'em bot’up, You put de lime in de coconut, you call your doctor, woke 'im up, Said " Doctor, ain’t there nothing’ I can take?" I said, “Doctor, to relieve this belly ache.” I said "Doctor, ain’t there nothin’ I can take?’ I said, “Doctor, to relieve this belly ache,” You put de lime in de coconut, you drink ‘em bot’ togedder Put de lime in de coconut and you’ll feel better, Put de lime in de coconut, drink ‘em bot’ up, Put de lime in de coconut and call me in the morning." \* ---
**Author:** ![Bricker](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/977dab/32.png) [@Bricker](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bricker)\ **Post date:** [April 5, 2005, 8:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/friend-slices-finger-in-half-docs-turn-him-away/297888/4 "2005-04-05T20:44:17Z")
> [@even sven](#): > > How the fuck is it okay to send a guy away bleeding with his finger half dangling off? How the fuck is it okay to let people suffer completely needlessly because they don’t have a few bucks for pain meds? I didn’t know doctors could just turn you away when you are seriously hurt, but I guess they can. It’s fucked up. What kind of friend are you? You’ve got $20,000 in the bank. Why didn’t you give him a few bucks for pain meds? How the fuck is it okay to send a friend off to suffer completely needlessly just because he doesn’t have a few bucks for pain meds, when you’ve got $20,000? It’s fucked up, is what it is. ---
**Author:** ![capybara](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/capybara/32/202_2.png) [@capybara](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/capybara)\ **Post date:** [April 5, 2005, 8:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/friend-slices-finger-in-half-docs-turn-him-away/297888/5 "2005-04-05T20:46:53Z")
I grew up in Hawaii, so if _I_ had a dime for every finger, machete, coconut story, I’d have not student loans left. Never ever HOLD the thing. Sheesh! ---
**Author:** ![wolfstu](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/d6d6ee/32.png) [@wolfstu](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/wolfstu)\ **Post date:** [April 5, 2005, 8:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/friend-slices-finger-in-half-docs-turn-him-away/297888/6 "2005-04-05T20:51:34Z")
> [@Bricker](#): > > What kind of friend are you? You’ve got $20,000 in the bank. Why didn’t you give him a few bucks for pain meds? How the fuck is it okay to send a friend off to suffer completely needlessly just because he doesn’t have a few bucks for pain meds, when you’ve got $20,000? It’s fucked up, is what it is. Where in the OP does it say that **even sven** was present while Machete Man was trying to get medical assistance _and_ that he had cash on hand in sufficient quantities? ---
**Author:** ![Yeticus\_Rex](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/y/a698b9/32.png) [@Yeticus\_Rex](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Yeticus_Rex)\ **Post date:** [April 5, 2005, 8:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/friend-slices-finger-in-half-docs-turn-him-away/297888/7 "2005-04-05T20:55:05Z")
> [@even sven](#): > > But, they didn’t accept cash. > . > . > . > What the fuck country do we live in? The “country” of California. Your friend should have become a Mexican citizen first so he could get medical treatment at an emergency room as an “undocumented citizen”, au gratis…that is, if the emergency room didn’t get shut down yet. Glad to be of help. ---
**Author:** ![Binarydrone](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/3da27b/32.png) [@Binarydrone](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Binarydrone)\ **Post date:** [April 5, 2005, 8:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/friend-slices-finger-in-half-docs-turn-him-away/297888/8 "2005-04-05T20:56:20Z")
> [@Bricker](#): > > What kind of friend are you? You’ve got $20,000 in the bank. Why didn’t you give him a few bucks for pain meds? How the fuck is it okay to send a friend off to suffer completely needlessly just because he doesn’t have a few bucks for pain meds, when you’ve got $20,000? It’s fucked up, is what it is. I just re read this whole thread. Where is it mentioned that the OP has 20k in the bank? 😕 ---
**Author:** ![Binarydrone](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/3da27b/32.png) [@Binarydrone](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Binarydrone)\ **Post date:** [April 5, 2005, 8:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/friend-slices-finger-in-half-docs-turn-him-away/297888/9 "2005-04-05T20:58:10Z")
Naturally, there was more of a point in me posting that when I would have been the first to do so. Quick Reply: The two edged sword. ---
**Author:** ![light\_strand](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/a6a055/32.png) [@light\_strand](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/light_strand)\ **Post date:** [April 5, 2005, 9:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/friend-slices-finger-in-half-docs-turn-him-away/297888/10 "2005-04-05T21:01:35Z")
Hey \*\*Yeticus Rex \*\* you dipshit, _all_ emergency rooms are required to treat everyone, not just Mexicans. He went to a clinic, not an ER. Shouldn’t you be watching the border somewhere? I hear the Minute Men are recruiting. All you need is a fancy-pants American flag hat! ---
**Author:** ![wring](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/838e76/32.png) [@wring](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/wring)\ **Post date:** [April 5, 2005, 9:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/friend-slices-finger-in-half-docs-turn-him-away/297888/11 "2005-04-05T21:02:31Z")
> [@Binarydrone](#): > > I just re read this whole thread. Where is it mentioned that the OP has 20k in the bank? 😕 it doesn’t. **Bricker** is bringing in information from other threads. ---
**Author:** ![Jackmannii](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jackmannii/32/311_2.png) [@Jackmannii](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jackmannii)\ **Post date:** [April 5, 2005, 9:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/friend-slices-finger-in-half-docs-turn-him-away/297888/12 "2005-04-05T21:02:57Z")
> [@wolfstu](#): > > Where in the OP does it say that **even sven** was present while Machete Man was trying to get medical assistance _and_ that he had cash on hand in sufficient quantities? She. Now lemme get this straight: something does jump out at your from **sven’s** harrowing account - the ability of the “DoctorsRUs” clinic to just slap a few stitches on a “nearly severed” finger and send the victim on his way, miraculously restored. Either 1) somebody at the clinic is able to handle a severely traumatic injury with vast dexterity, using simple medical techniques (a Triumph for American Medicine!), or 2) someone goofed by casually suturing up a major wound without regard to potential neurologic and vascular complications, in which case the victim (Good News!) has a great malpractice case in the offing, or 3) **sven** exaggerated the extent of the injury a wee tad (finger dangling by a thread) for hyperbolic effect. The undeniable good news is that we Americans have once again demonstrated a great national resource, the ability to make snarky remarks about potential Darwin Award nominees. Next up: How **not** to slice a bagel. ---
**Author:** ![Binarydrone](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/3da27b/32.png) [@Binarydrone](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Binarydrone)\ **Post date:** [April 5, 2005, 9:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/friend-slices-finger-in-half-docs-turn-him-away/297888/13 "2005-04-05T21:04:49Z")
> [@wring](#): > > it doesn’t. **Bricker** is bringing in information from other threads. Actually, I get that. My sarcasm seems to be falling rather flat today. The point that I was trying to make, albeit poorly, is that I did not see what that comment had to do with the OP. ---
**Author:** ![scout1222](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/34f0e0/32.png) [@scout1222](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/scout1222)\ **Post date:** [April 5, 2005, 9:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/friend-slices-finger-in-half-docs-turn-him-away/297888/14 "2005-04-05T21:09:28Z")
Well. This train wreck could go in _all sorts_ of different directions. ---
**Author:** ![wring](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/838e76/32.png) [@wring](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/wring)\ **Post date:** [April 5, 2005, 9:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/friend-slices-finger-in-half-docs-turn-him-away/297888/15 "2005-04-05T21:13:03Z")
> [@Binarydrone](#): > > Actually, I get that. My sarcasm seems to be falling rather flat today. The point that I was trying to make, albeit poorly, is that I did not see what that comment had to do with the OP. sorry. what the comment has to do w/the OP, I _suspect_ (since I’m not **Bricker** ) that he’s suggesting that: a. **evensven** ’s OP suggests that some how some one other than the victim (ie the American taxpayer or perhaps the hospital/clinic) should pay the bill. b. that he ( **Bricker** ) would probably prefer that the victim and /or their friends /close ones pay for the bill, since he is an American taxpayer ™. c. that since he (\*\* Bricker\*\*) is aware of the OP’s funds, that if she ‘really cared’, she would pay the bill. however, since the OP references that the original medical facility was not used because > [@](#): > > they don’t take cash , this suggests to me, at least, that payment for services wasn’t the issue at hand. as it were. ---
**Author:** ![Contrapuntal](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/e274bd/32.png) [@Contrapuntal](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Contrapuntal)\ **Post date:** [April 5, 2005, 9:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/friend-slices-finger-in-half-docs-turn-him-away/297888/16 "2005-04-05T21:16:00Z")
I’m pretty sure **Bricker** was talking about paying for pain medication, not the emergency services. ---
**Author:** ![wring](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/838e76/32.png) [@wring](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/wring)\ **Post date:** [April 5, 2005, 9:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/friend-slices-finger-in-half-docs-turn-him-away/297888/17 "2005-04-05T21:20:24Z")
oh. OTOH - whenever I’ve been to an er type of place for painful types of situations, standard practice was to hand over some pain meds and a script (maybe) for additional, since it’s assumed that immediately after treatment the pain would be greater than say, the next day, and wanting the patient to get home and not have to go to fill a script and so on. ---
**Author:** ![Mtgman](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/b5a626/32.png) [@Mtgman](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mtgman)\ **Post date:** [April 5, 2005, 9:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/friend-slices-finger-in-half-docs-turn-him-away/297888/18 "2005-04-05T21:39:42Z")
> [@scout1222](#): > > Well. This train wreck could go in _all sorts_ of different directions. Train wrecked, cars everywhere. Enjoy, Steven ---
**Author:** ![BethCro](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/cdc98d/32.png) [@BethCro](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BethCro)\ **Post date:** [April 5, 2005, 9:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/friend-slices-finger-in-half-docs-turn-him-away/297888/19 "2005-04-05T21:40:36Z")
(slight hijack) I was very lucky last Friday - a woman in the bathroom of my local pub in England clobbered my leg with the stall door and I dislocated my knee. The next two women to come to the loo were doctors. I explained my problem, they checked it out, returned with yet another doctor and replaced my kneecap. My friend was complaining about the amount of time they took, but as I explained to him, back home in the US, I could have been at a medical convention and nobody would have touched me, due to concerns about malpractice. I walked out, without having to wait for an ambulance, no waiting 6+ hours at Charing Cross Hospital, and I’m just fine now. Hell, they even went across the road to their office and got me some pain meds for the night! (slight hijack over) Things are very different here. Very, very different. And quite nice at times. ---
**Author:** ![smiling\_bandit](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/e9a140/32.png) [@smiling\_bandit](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/smiling_bandit)\ **Post date:** [April 5, 2005, 9:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/friend-slices-finger-in-half-docs-turn-him-away/297888/20 "2005-04-05T21:46:44Z")
I was under the impression that the arteries didn’t go all the way into the fingers? [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/friend-slices-finger-in-half-docs-turn-him-away/297888.md?page=2)