National Health Care

[natty bumppo 297]

'Didn't expect' to lose finger, says man who shot off wart

British man attempts surgery with shotgun after dealing with painful blemish for years

Bedeviled by a painful wart that no cream, ointment or doctor could cure, Sean Murphy reportedly decided to try a radical — and permanent — at-home procedure. His surgical tool: a 12-bore Beretta shotgun.

In a move that seems fitting of the Wild West, rather than modern England, the security guard fortified himself with a healthy dose of the local anaesthetic — in lager form, naturally — stretched out his left hand, aimed, and pulled the trigger. Unfortunately for Murphy, the blast had collateral damage. According to The Telegraph, it blew off nearly the entire middle finger on his left hand, and left the 38-year-old facing possible prison time for illegal possession of a firearm.

With just a stump to show for his efforts, Murphy appeared in court earlier this week and was handed a suspended 16-week prison sentence and 100 hours of community service.

"I'm happy with that," Murphy reportedly said of his sentence.

"I know I could have gone to jail for up to 15 years for a firearms offence. My solicitor did a very good job."

Defending the at-home surgery, Murphy's lawyer, Richard Haigh, told the Telegraph that Murphy had been "a victim of his own stupidity when domestic pressures got to him."

Despite all the trouble he caused, Murphy stood by his decision, telling the Yorkshire Post: "The best thing is that the wart has gone. It was giving me a lot of trouble."

The treatment was administered in March, and he has since lost his job.

Fortify, aim, fire

According to a report, the blemish was on the joint closest to the tip of his middle finger, and was causing the digit to bend unnaturally.

Murphy, who told the court he found gun under a hedge, reportedly fortified himself with several pints of beer, stretched out his left hand, and aimed the gun's barrel.

Murphy told the Telegraph that the beer wasn't to blame for his shot taking off more of his finger than he intended. He places blame on the weapon's recoil.

Despite the inherent risk of using a gun when a scalpel would do, Murphy told the Yorkshire Post he was surprised by his disfigurement.

"I didn't expect to lose my finger as well when I shot it but the gun recoiled and that was it. The wart was gone and so was most of my finger. There was nothing left, so no chance to re-attach it."

Source

[Trumplestiltskin 5,791]

No Natty, that is not "National Healthcare"

[natty bumppo 297]

Bedeviled by a painful wart that no cream, ointment or doctor could cure, Sean Murphy reportedly decided to try a radical — and permanent — at-home procedure. His surgical tool: a 12-bore Beretta shotgun.

NHS approved doctors couldn't surgically remove the wart?

Edited June 16, 2011 by natty bumppo

[one...two...tree 2,762]

"a victim of his own stupidity when domestic pressures got to him."

Am I missing something here? How does this man's stupidity have to do with his healthcare?

[Usui Takumi 1,562]

NHS approved doctors couldn't surgically remove the wart?

You don't surgically remove them. You have to freeze them. I had one removed long ago, she sprayed a dry ice like substance on it. It blistered, bled, went black, scabbed, and then healthy skin appeared below.

Even the baddest wart in the world can be treated like this, you just need to patient as it may require many return trips.

Edited June 16, 2011 by Sousuke

[Trumplestiltskin 5,791]

NHS approved doctors couldn't surgically remove the wart?

I'm not inclined to believe that an alcoholic who shoots himself in the hand to remove a earthquake has much of an idea about anything.

[The Dude 206]

NHS approved doctors couldn't surgically remove the wart?

I think this is more an indictment of stupid people with guns than it is on an NHS.

[natty bumppo 297]

"a victim of his own stupidity when domestic pressures got to him."

Am I missing something here? How does this man's stupidity have to do with his healthcare?

healthcare failed to remove the wart ... so his stupidity did.

so ... big question here ... what failed to remove the wart?

health care providers?

stupidity?

[natty bumppo 297]

You don't surgically remove them. You have to freeze them. I had one removed long ago, she sprayed a dry ice like substance on it. It blistered, bled, went black, scabbed, and then healthy skin appeared below.

Even the baddest wart in the world can be treated like this, you just need to patient as it may require many return trips.

yea ... i knew this. just didn't type it ...

[Usui Takumi 1,562]

healthcare failed to remove the wart ... so his stupidity did.

so ... big question here ... what failed to remove the wart?

health care providers?

stupidity?

A nurse can do the procedure on the spot. Every city in the UK has a facility for walk-ins on weekends in case you can't get to your local surgery on the weekdays.

This is not an NHS issue.

[Trumplestiltskin 5,791]

"a victim of his own stupidity when domestic pressures got to him."

Am I missing something here? How does this man's stupidity have to do with his healthcare?

It has to do with it because Natty fancies a bit of Brit baiting, even if it makes him look foolish into the bargain.

[Trumplestiltskin 5,791]

A nurse can do the procedure on the spot. Every city in the UK has a facility for walk-ins on weekends in case you can't get to your local surgery on the weekdays.

This is not an NHS issue.

Presumably Natty is not an expert on mole removal.

If anything i'm surprised he isn't recommending a different caliber of firearm for home surgery. I expect he has guns to cover everything from shooting problem tumours to tooth extraction.

[natty bumppo 297]

A nurse can do the procedure on the spot. Every city in the UK has a facility for walk-ins on weekends in case you can't get to your local surgery on the weekdays.

This is not an NHS issue.

if the doctors couldn't cure it (as stated in the article) ... maybe he needed better doctors.

or since you mentioned a nurse could do it ... maybe he should have gone to a nurse instead of the doctor ...

[Ironman140 45]

I blame the lager. No man who drinks stout could be that stupid

[Trumplestiltskin 5,791]

if the doctors couldn't cure it (as stated in the article) ... maybe he needed better doctors.

or since you mentioned a nurse could do it ... maybe he should have gone to a nurse instead of the doctor ...

You trust the word of a guy who shoots himself in the hand after beer....

Do you take financial advice from confidence tricksters as well?