[chemquat]

about the stitches: i had stiches on my arm when i was 8, and they let me look. looking back i think maybe they thought it would calm me down if i knew what they were doing, instead of keeping it some big secret. i handled it well, didn't cry at all once everything got comfortably numb.

i've worked in very small hospitals that have been pretty close to larger facilities, and i think that keeps most of the interesting stuff away from us. if it's a serious condition, they go to the larger hospital b/c they can handle it better. and if it's just a hilarious situation, they go to the larger hospital b/c there's less chance someone will know them.

however, there was an incident here a few years ago--two women had fought, and one was brought here for treatment. the other woman showed up and decided to continue the argument with the patient's family, and she ended up getting thrown out of the window in the lobby.

at my last hospital a patient tried to bribe me with a steak dinner in exchange for taking as long as possible to process his paperwork, to give his body enough time to get his blood alcohol down to a non-DUI limit. i just smiled and nodded and got him away from me as quickly as possible.