Will people ever learn?

You know, I have a lot of empathy for people but sometimes people just do the dumbest things. ((I've never attached a file here before so I hope this works.))

http://my.embarq.earthlink.net/article/hea?guid=20061027/45418440_3ca6_1552620061027-1866656723

The file came thru OK. All I can say is OMG!

That's just what I want to do if I have diabetes, don't you? I'm going to go out on a limb and venture a gues . . . . . she probably is not the most compliant patient when it comes to her diabetes. What a mess!

Marla-

It said in the article that the infection was not a result of the piercing itself. They said that it just created the point of entry. That being said, what is happening to her is still tragic.

Although I would never consider a nipple piercing, it is a freedom of expression. And I agree it's not a smart decision for a diabetic, but not necessarily a "dumb" one for a 18 year old women. It was probably a decision she made to "fit in" or break the rules that as a young women she has always had to follow (don't do this, don't do that). Very unfortunate though that she had such complications.

I think it's tragic.

I'm not particularly fond of body piercings myself, but one should be able to have it done without paying for it with their life or their health. The girl ought to sue the pants off the person who did the piercing, if she ever recovers.

Yes, it's tragic and I feel bad for this young girl. However, she is an adult. She knew she has diabetes and the ramifications of it. But a lawsuit? I think not! She needs to take responsibility for her own actions. When we choose to do these things, we choose to take chances.

My middle daughter had her belly button pierced as soon as she turned 18. This was not done with my knowledge. She ended up with some nasty infections from it and finally just let it heal up. Lawsuit? NO! She was dumb enough to have holes created in a vulnerable spot, she dealt with it.

It's lawsuits like this that are doing nothing but making lawyers wallet's fat, sending malpractice insurance through the roof, etc. etc. etc.

My personal opinion about the teenage and young adult population of today is that they're spoiled and need to learn how to deal with life. No, I've not always been popular with my kids when I made them work to pay for things like gas and car insurance when their friends were sucking it off of mom and dad but I really think my kids are learning more responsibility than their friends. People simply have to learn to take some responsibility for their actions.

Like another poster before me, the girl probably just wanted to fit in with her peers, feel like any other teen. Unfortunately for her, she is diabetic and the disease in uncompromising. Working in the ER, I see many type 1 diabetics that are just in the stage of denial and rebellion. They come in after being non-compliant and in DKA. Kids this age don't understand the consequences of their actions, they just want to be normal. It is a very difficult disease to live with and nurses need to have a little compassion. Remember your age appropriate psych assessments. It is a tragedy that a young girl lost her breast and nearly her life.