Posted by Tom Mason on June 19, 2003 at 13:04:05:
In Reply to: Re: CUT LIP posted by Andy on June 19, 2003 at 11:27:16:
I have seen some great ER doctors in my area refuse to stich a would for the same reason you stated. They are correct in their statement.
I arrested a subject who was on heroine and drinking at the same time. When we got him to ER, the doctor saw a finger wound that was cut, and reopened during the altercation between him and me. The cut had happened about 1 week prior to the incident, and was reopened.
The doctor took one look at the cut, (a gash across the right index finger between knuckles 2 and 3 on the inside), and told us that there was no way he was stitching, even though we could see muscles and tendons. He bandaged after cleaning and medicating.
The morale of the story is get medical treatment asap when something like this happens.
Tom Mason
(not a doctor, but does show up in ER from time to time)