MalloryKeaton

http://www.click2houston.com/news/4055421/detail.html

Man Headed To E.R. Arrested For Not Pulling Over

POSTED: 1:14 pm EST January 6, 2005
ST. GEORGE, Utah -- Driving to the emergency room is no excuse for refusing to stop for police.

At least that's what Utah Highway Patrol Trooper Ben Lang says. Lang arrested a man at a hospital after he wouldn't pull over.
The man had shot himself in the leg with a nail gun. Lang said the driver was reacting to the emotion of an emergency, but didn't have the right to act like he was driving an ambulance.The trooper added that it would have taken just a minute or two for the driver to explain the situation.

Copyright 2005 by The Associated Press. All rights reserved.

86amanda86

This police officer is correct. If it were a life and death situation the man would have been allowed to continue without pulling over but if it is a matter of panic and pain he has to comply with the police by law.

LittleMilkJug

I wonder if a police officer is capable of realising wether an injury is life threatening or not. Sometimes what seems like a minor injury can suddenly turn nasty.

86amanda86

Well unless the nail in his leg was miraculously sucked into his blood stream and quickly ended up in a vital organ I think it's safe to say this man will pull through.

Any onther problems that could arise from this such as Tetaus, loss of blood(which I doubt would be a considerate amount in this case), or at worse septic shock, take from anywhere between 6 hours to 6 weeks to take hold.

Hardly an excuse to be rushing to the emergancy room while endangering other drivers.

- Jen -

well i dunno about anyone else, but if i had shot myself with a nail gun, i would be panicking and doing anything to get to the hospital...

he was in shock, in a hell of a lot of pain, and reacted on those emotions, give the guy a break, he didnt hurt anyone...

86amanda86

If I shot myself with a nail gun I think I'd be so embaressed that I'd screw the hospital, pull it out, clean it up, sterilize it, stitch it up, and administer the infection prevention shot myself to avoid public humiliation.

- Jen -

well it is pretty stupid to shoot yourself with a nail gun...

*Lauren

You ever seen anyone with sceptic shock? Its not something that will become apparent. My father had it last year, and almost died from it.

I think the officer is an *******.

Avatar

In the case of an emergency, you are allowed to break the law (i.e. if you're attacked, you're allowed to fight back), but the action has to be proportional with the danger faced, and that doesn't seem to be the case here. Also, why didn't he call an ambulance?

86amanda86

Have I seen sceptic shock? Oh yes...oh yes...More than once I'm afraid.

My brother has a spinal cord injury and often devolpes pressure sores. I'm not sure if you know what those are but I don't want to grose anybody out. A few years back one got so bad it went all the way through his bone. They tried everything to avaid yet another surgery on this new hole in his body.( they were running out of muscle to pull up off his legs to cover these holes)
Alas they were forced to anyway when he when into severe sceptic shock while in the hospital as a result off the residual staff infection he had developed from his very first surgery. When they went in they found that not only had his skin broken down to the bone, but the infection had turned his entire hip joint to mush. Even the doctors don't know how he pulled through. It's a good think he couldn't feel any of this...
He was on IV Vancomicen for 1 year straight, even at home but no matter what antibiotics we give him it keeps mutating and coming back in different way, in a different sore. They say he'll always have the infection in him and the best we can do is hope his body has developed a resistance to it.
Still, every now and again he gets feverish and weak and we calmly drive him to the hospital for more antibiotics and another month or longer stay. This time he missed Christmas. We're hoping he'll be home sometime in the next week and I know I'll feel a lot better with him here. Even though he plays the role of dictator with this computer and I'm lucky to get five minutes to check my email... But hey, who can blame him, its one of the only things he can control right?
Anyway, I know this is way more than you wanted to know but I guess I just needed to say it. I don't really talk about it to anybody so sorry if you guys are...um, overloaded.

Anyway, yeah, the point of it was, yeah. I think I know a thing or two about sceptic shock...

Lorna

I can't believe the police actually arrested this man! Maybe he should have stopped, but would you if you had a nail in your leg?!! Come on! Fine him, whatever, but don't arrest him!

WalkingOnSunshine

I was wondering the same thing. This man could have endangered more lives by driving in his condition. I think the cop was right. Besides, if he would have hurt someone - everyone would be yelling where were the cops?

Also, my sister went to court for a speeding ticket and there was a man there who had been charged with reckless driving. He was going 20 over the speed limit, I believe. He had hurt himself and decided it was best to drive himself. The judge simply said, "ambulances are official means of transportation for injuries." Pretty clear. He had to pay his fine by the way.

- Jen -

yeah, except i have often seen times, where police/ambulance drivers say, that if you can drive yourself, or get someone else to drive you, dont take up a valuable ambulance that someone who is fately injured might need...

JW77

Yup, I've heard the same thing.

Anyway, unless you've been in a similar situation, it's kind of hard to say what you would do. Or at least I think so.

Can't blame the police officer though...he was just doing his job.

86amanda86

this is just a possibility, but maybe this man's insurence didn't cover enough for an ambulance, one rice to a nearby hospital can cost several thousand dollars...