Posted by akc on November 9, 2001, at 9:20:54
In reply to Re: Cutting... Did anyone see ER?, posted by Dinah on November 9, 2001, at 8:35:17
I have had a lot of experience of being treated by doctors for cutting.
I have been to the ER 4 times for stiches and have been treated well 3 of the times. But then again, I didn't try to get up and leave and act as agitated as she did. That would be a tough one for the doctors. The cuts on her leg appeared to be actively bleeding (they showed blood running down her leg from one). They needed to evaluate her. While most cutters are not suicidal, some are and the er docs would be deliquent in their jobs if they didn't get a psych consult. To do so, they would need to help her become calm. What they did was borderline -- I'm not certain it was wrong.
The one time I was not treated well was at one hospital that I have not had good treatment at period. I said I really didn't want a pysch consult, so they put a cop on my door and wouldn't finish dressing the wounds until the pdoc came and evaluated me. It was rude at best. The next time I needed help, I drove 5 extra miles (though I lived only 2 blocks from this hospital at this time), just to get better treatment.
Another thing I do believe is it depends on the doctor you get at the hospital -- or at the doctor's office. I've mentioned before I had a general practioner who I received really bad care from in the three months I had her as my doc -- to the point that she let me suffer great physical pain caused by my gall bladder going south suddenly -- but it was all in my head and was all an attempt to get pain meds because I am an alcoholic of course (another story, another day). But she knew I cut, because she took out the stiches. I don't think she even had a clue what was going on with me -- nor did she even try.
Because cutting is rare, it is a rough thing for people to understand, and I think that includes doctors.
akc
poster:akc
thread:13645
URL: http://www.dr-bob.org/babble/social/20011105/msgs/13705.html