Last Friday while at work, I started having an awful pain in my gut, off to the side. I went to my friend Debby and asked her to drive me to the hospital. I wanted to GO. Right then. But, no. Other people HAD to involve themselves in my business. My boss called the ERT. They're called the “Emergency Response Team”. They are actually folks with not enough work to do during the day and radios. They're supposed to coordinate with the EMT to get us out of the building quicker. Or something stupid like that. And I suppose, in some cases, they might be useful. Although they spend a lot of time walking around with their precious radios and talking instead of working and "contributing to the success of our mission".
They actually PREVENTED me from leaving and getting medical attention. My boss told them I had chest pains. Which was NOT true. I knew it was kidney stones. But I was gently “put” in a chair and not allowed to leave. Which actually delayed my medical attention for at least 15 minutes. So after the ERT team arrived, I had to wait for the nurse. Then she asked questions forever and then the EMT was called. So a good half hour after I initially wanted to leave, they showed up and took me to the hospital.
Now, I am sure I'm going to get a sizeable bill for an ambulance I never wanted. Yes, I asked for one because it was clear they were not going to let me walk out of there. But was that even a choice? If that's not coercion, I dont' know what is. But Blue Cross is going to send me a bill for hundreds of dollars for something for which I was forced to ask.
Is this letting someone make their own decision?
No, this is “procedure”. This is some idiot making up rules to decide MY medical choices for me. Because they KNOW BETTER. I know I'm stupid for thinking I should be allowed to do what I think is best for me. I don't live in a country that allows that. I live in a country where laws and procedures are made for the LCD (lowest common denominator). And that means everyone is treated as though they were a non-functional fucking retard.
I get treated as a droolie because someone says it must be so. And I had no idea that these rules applied to me until I was in a situation where I could not resist. I loathed going into work today. I only told one person there my feelings on the subject, and she likely thinks I'm a little nutty. But that's okay. I'm used to being the only person that feels the way I do.
But I seriously feel violated on this issue. And there's no one to blame, because it's “procedure”. “No one has a choice.”
Exactly.
Labels: health, kidney stone, work
