Niles woman shoots self to get medical attention, says nothing got accomplished - video

[Bozita]

Video at link.

Niles woman shoots self to get medical attention, says nothing got accomplished
Originally printed at http://www.wsbt.com/news/local/96171574.html

NILES — A Berrien County woman, out of work, and unable to afford health insurance, says she shot herself so that she'd finally get medical treatment for a shoulder injury.

It happened Thursday afternoon at her home in Niles.

Kathy Myers, 41, says she hurt her shoulder about a month ago while playing with her dogs in her backyard.

And while she has been treated with pain medication, she says the pain has gotten unbearable, but she can't see a specialist to fix the problem because she can't afford health insurance.

"They said it would have to be life-threatening or imminent danger for them to do anything, so I was making it be imminent danger that something had to be done," she said.

The bullet missed anything major and she was released from the hospital a few hours later.

"I really didn't accomplish what I hoped it would accomplish. I was really hoping it would hit an artery or bone so they would do the surgery and fix me," she said. "I have no suicide wish. My life sucks right now but I want to live. I've got lots to live for and there's more good than bad in everything in my life, so that's not what it was about at all... I just want to take the pain away."

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[LisaL]

1. If she hit an artery she could easily have died before

any surgery was attempted.
Boggles the mind.

[Catshrink]

2. It sure does (boggle the mind)

but desperate people do desperate things.

[Bozita]

4. The more severe the pain, the less rational the thinking gets.

[Xipe Totec]

3. Münchausen syndrome

In Münchausen syndrome, the affected person exaggerates or creates symptoms of illnesses in themselves to gain investigation, treatment, attention, sympathy, and comfort from medical personnel. In some extremes, people suffering from Münchausen's syndrome are highly knowledgeable about the practice of medicine and are able to produce symptoms that result in lengthy and costly medical analysis, prolonged hospital stay and unnecessary operations. The role of "patient" is a familiar and comforting one, and it fills a psychological need in people with Münchausen's. It is distinct from hypochondriasis in that patients with Münchausen syndrome are aware that they are exaggerating, whereas sufferers of hypochondriasis believe they actually have a disease. Risk factors for developing Münchausen syndrome include childhood traumas, and growing up with caretakers who, through illness or emotional problems, were unavailable.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/M%C3%BCnchausen_syndrome

[Liberal_in_LA]

5. saw her on the new. Cops are thinking of charging her with firearms discharge or something

[sandnsea]

6. Sad responses

She should have been held under psychiatric watch for 3 days too. Then they would have had to evaluate her arm as well to make sure it wasn't psychosomatic.

A big part of problem in medical care is the place you get it, not how it's paid for.

[LisaL]

8. I agree with you.

[david13]

7. What is truly sad is that in this country, the good ole usa, there are

thousands, maybe millions of people in exactly this situation.
And yet all we hear is 'oh, we can't have socialism'.
England seems to have a good system. Why can't we.
dc