# Turn out your pockets. Say what? **URL:** \ **Category:** Miscellaneous and Personal Stuff I Must Share\ **Created:** [June 22, 2024, 4:32am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/turn-out-your-pockets-say-what/1003190 "2024-06-22T04:32:29Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 19\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![Chefguy](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/chefguy/32/138_2.png) [@Chefguy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chefguy)\ **Post date:** [June 22, 2024, 7:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/turn-out-your-pockets-say-what/1003190/21 "2024-06-22T19:58:02Z")
> [@Briny\_Deep](#): > > My local hospital’s emergency room now has a guard and metal detector at the entrance. I totally get this and support it. All manner of people go into an ER, including drug users. Nobody wants to get stuck with a dirty needle. Nor do they want someone coding in the waiting room from a handful of fentanyl. My wife’s niece is an ER nurse who has been assaulted twice. Luckily, neither of them had a weapon, but she was seriously injured both times. ---
**Author:** ![Magiver](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/4491bb/32.png) [@Magiver](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Magiver)\ **Post date:** [June 22, 2024, 8:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/turn-out-your-pockets-say-what/1003190/22 "2024-06-22T20:11:21Z")
> [@Beckdawrek](#): > > Yes. Biggest hassle ever. I find the issue amazing as does everybody else. I hope you spell her name right in your correspondence with the facility. ---
**Author:** ![Kent\_Clark](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kent_clark/32/105_2.png) [@Kent\_Clark](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kent_Clark)\ **Post date:** [June 22, 2024, 8:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/turn-out-your-pockets-say-what/1003190/23 "2024-06-22T20:51:54Z")
> [@Chefguy](#): > > All manner of people go into an ER, including drug users. We’ve had one ER in particular here where there have been multiple assaults on staff, often by patients. This isn’t an inner-city hospital either. It’s out in the suburbs. ---
**Author:** ![robby](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/robby/32/11048_2.png) [@robby](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/robby)\ **Post date:** [June 22, 2024, 9:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/turn-out-your-pockets-say-what/1003190/24 "2024-06-22T21:16:08Z")
> [@robby](#): > > @Beckdawrek, did Ivy get them back for you? > [@Beckdawrek](#): > > Usually stuff is put in a bag and you pick it up on the way out. We didn’t bother to ask for it to be bagged. I’m talking about your inhaler and insulin pen that were thrown in the trash under the desk without your permission. Were you or Ivy able to get the items that were thrown away returned to you? ---
**Author:** ![wolfpup](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/wolfpup/32/10618_2.png) [@wolfpup](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/wolfpup)\ **Post date:** [June 22, 2024, 9:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/turn-out-your-pockets-say-what/1003190/25 "2024-06-22T21:21:54Z")
> [@Beckdawrek](#): > > I put a hoodie on today. It had my inhaler and an insulin pen in the pocket. I guess they were there from awhile ago. > The person at the desk grabbed them up and said something to the effect “no drugs brought in” they then looked closely at both and said " these are both expired" chunked them in the trash under the desk. This asshole was more than just rude. They should be reported and should be fired. Just as a side note, expired medications, especially lifesaving ones, are **not** useless. They likely not only have a large percentage of their efficacy left, but studies of expired medications suggest that many are labeled with extremely conservative expiry dates and so those meds might even have had 100% of their original efficacy. Secondly, pharmacists in most jurisdictions (and certainly around here) are allowed to dispense a limited amount of a prescription medication at their own discretion if they deem it to be justified by medical urgency. Legally, the pharmacist then becomes the “prescriber of record”. An expired or empty medication container with your name on it goes a long way to establishing that the medication is needed and has been deemed safe for you by a medical professional. Beyond all that, it was your personal property. Asshole should be sacked. No question about it. ---
**Author:** ![Beckdawrek](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/beckdawrek/32/3647_2.png) [@Beckdawrek](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Beckdawrek)\ **Post date:** [June 22, 2024, 9:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/turn-out-your-pockets-say-what/1003190/26 "2024-06-22T21:31:40Z")
They were reported. I’ve accidentally had bad insulin…bad news folks. I’ve had short expired (by the next week or so), not bad But this was not carefully stored…can’t remember where that hoodie had been since the last time I wore it. I would not take a chance with it. Probably would have tossed it myself. It was rude behavior any how you look at it. (I did **not** want them digging it out of the trash and giving it back to me. Now, if it had been the Hope diamond…maybe. I’d make Ivy hold it till I got to some cleaner) ---
**Author:** ![Whack-a-Mole](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/whack-a-mole/32/141_2.png) [@Whack-a-Mole](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Whack-a-Mole)\ **Post date:** [June 22, 2024, 9:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/turn-out-your-pockets-say-what/1003190/27 "2024-06-22T21:40:29Z")
I wonder what prompted them to require this level of scrutiny? Usually there is some reason. While completely different, I remember signing my first mortgage for a home. I had an attorney there and we were going through page after page of a large stack of papers I had to sign. I asked my attorney why there was so much to sign? I figured a piece of paper that says they are loaning me $X and I owe them payments of $Y over some time-frame would be sufficient. My attorney said all that bullshit was there because someone, at some time, got out of paying the money back so a new page was added to the pile to plug that hole. Seems like something like that might be at work here. Still sucks. Put another way…there always seems to be that one person that ruins it for the rest of us. ---
**Author:** ![hajario](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/hajario/32/171_2.png) [@hajario](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/hajario)\ **Post date:** [June 22, 2024, 9:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/turn-out-your-pockets-say-what/1003190/28 "2024-06-22T21:56:51Z")
My ladder had like eight stickers on it. Each on represents a law suit. ---
**Author:** ![BippityBoppityBoo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bippityboppityboo/32/5745_2.png) [@BippityBoppityBoo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BippityBoppityBoo)\ **Post date:** [June 22, 2024, 10:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/turn-out-your-pockets-say-what/1003190/29 "2024-06-22T22:07:35Z")
> [@wolfpup](#): > > Beyond all that, it was your personal property. > > Asshole should be sacked. No question about it. Agree. At least put on probation and assiduously re-trained. Makes a mistake like it again, gone. > [@Beckdawrek](#): > > Probably would have tossed it myself. That would be your decision to make, not hers. Huge delusions of importance about herself and her role. Unless she was a licensed nurse, doctor or pharmacist (or sworn law enforcement) the most she should have done was said “our rules are that we’ll keep it at the desk for you and you can pick it up on your way out”. She is ignorant as well. An insulin pen requires special disposal in a puncture proof container with blood borne pathogen precautions-those are never under a desk and a wastebasket doesn’t qualify in any way, shape or form. Aerosol medications like inhalers have similar, precise disposal requirements. Among other things that was several hundred dollars worth of medication she confiscated with no authority. That is theft. Horrible training and supervision of employees at that place. I realize you don’t have a choice. Hope you and Ivy keep following up on this. ---
**Author:** ![Beckdawrek](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/beckdawrek/32/3647_2.png) [@Beckdawrek](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Beckdawrek)\ **Post date:** [June 22, 2024, 10:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/turn-out-your-pockets-say-what/1003190/30 "2024-06-22T22:15:26Z")
We will. (Done this crap before and I have my trusty, side-kick, advocate) The desk person is clerical help, at best. Probably minimally trained. I’m not sure if the container was proper storage or not. ---
**Author:** ![BippityBoppityBoo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bippityboppityboo/32/5745_2.png) [@BippityBoppityBoo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BippityBoppityBoo)\ **Post date:** [June 22, 2024, 10:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/turn-out-your-pockets-say-what/1003190/31 "2024-06-22T22:25:41Z")
> [@Beckdawrek](#): > > I’m not sure if the container was proper storage or not. I’ve been a nurse properly disposing of insulin needles and other medications for 43 years. Trust me, a wastebasket under or next to a desk is never proper storage. If nothing else report them to the nearest Board of Health or public health authority for improper disposal of hazardous waste. That ought to get the clinic’s attention because it could mean a big fine. ---
**Author:** ![phs3](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/8491ac/32.png) [@phs3](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/phs3)\ **Post date:** [June 23, 2024, 12:14am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/turn-out-your-pockets-say-what/1003190/32 "2024-06-23T00:14:21Z")
> [@Seanette](#): > > I strongly suspect putting personally identifiable patient info in public view is a HIPAA violation Quite possibly. Hospital here gives you a number, and posts status with that on public monitors. So all others can see is that 83374134 is in the recovery room. Of course one of the problems with HIPAA is that such things are not well defined, and are thus subject to local interpretation (and possibly re-interpretation if someone complains). I hate regulations like that, as they so often lead to people being stupidly paranoid and making more work for everyone. ---
**Author:** ![Gatopescado](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/gatopescado/32/5711_2.png) [@Gatopescado](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Gatopescado)\ **Post date:** [June 23, 2024, 12:17am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/turn-out-your-pockets-say-what/1003190/33 "2024-06-23T00:17:20Z")
> [@wolfpup](#): > > This asshole was more than just rude. They should be reported and should be fired. Beck is skinny and her belt has no more room for additional notches. ---
**Author:** ![Bob\_Blaylock](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bob_blaylock/32/3235_2.png) [@Bob\_Blaylock](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bob_Blaylock)\ **Post date:** [June 23, 2024, 3:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/turn-out-your-pockets-say-what/1003190/34 "2024-06-23T15:04:54Z")
  If it was me, I would demand that my property be immediately returned to me, and if not, I would be calling the police.   This amounts to outright robbery.  That desk-jockey ought to spend some time in jail. ---
**Author:** ![Beckdawrek](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/beckdawrek/32/3647_2.png) [@Beckdawrek](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Beckdawrek)\ **Post date:** [June 25, 2024, 1:52am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/turn-out-your-pockets-say-what/1003190/35 "2024-06-25T01:52:48Z")
**Update** This morning I go in dialysis as normal. Signed in. No pocket contents. Passed muster from the same check in person. Name called. I went in and was hooked up. Ivy went out to do an errand. When she came she had a baggie with my name on it. In it was my inhaler and the insulin pen. No ceremony. They just handed it to her. So, I feel vindicated but an apology or acknowledgement in some way would’ve been correct, I think. ---
**Author:** ![Seanette](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/seanette/32/9139_2.png) [@Seanette](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Seanette)\ **Post date:** [June 25, 2024, 2:25am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/turn-out-your-pockets-say-what/1003190/36 "2024-06-25T02:25:32Z")
Or better yet a different person at the desk. ---
**Author:** ![Beckdawrek](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/beckdawrek/32/3647_2.png) [@Beckdawrek](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Beckdawrek)\ **Post date:** [June 25, 2024, 2:50am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/turn-out-your-pockets-say-what/1003190/37 "2024-06-25T02:50:29Z")
There’s a certain person (I won’t name names Ivy ) who says I gripe about people in the business of providing me with life saving healthcare, too often. 🤭 ---
**Author:** ![PatrickLondon](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/patricklondon/32/4422_2.png) [@PatrickLondon](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/PatrickLondon)\ **Post date:** [June 25, 2024, 6:09am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/turn-out-your-pockets-say-what/1003190/38 "2024-06-25T06:09:34Z")
You can be forgiven for being sensitive and on edge. For not recognising that, they might not be. ---
**Author:** ![Gatopescado](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/gatopescado/32/5711_2.png) [@Gatopescado](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Gatopescado)\ **Post date:** [June 25, 2024, 6:18am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/turn-out-your-pockets-say-what/1003190/39 "2024-06-25T06:18:45Z")
I told you, Ivy will grow on you. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/turn-out-your-pockets-say-what/1003190.md?page=1)