Woman Awakens From Surgery to Find Panty-Line Tattoo

Fox News ^ | 07.16.2008 | Fox News

[Coffee200am]

A New Jersey woman has sued her orthopedic surgeon after awakening from surgery to find a temporary tattoo below her panty line.

Elizabeth Mateo, of Camden County, N.J., filed her lawsuit Tuesday saying she found "a temporary tattoo of a red rose" below her panty line the morning after her surgery for a herniated disc, her attorney, Gregg A. Shivers, told the Philadelphia Inquirer.

"She was extremely emotionally upset by it," Shivers told the paper.

[celtic gal]

it is the implication....

[PBRSTREETGANG]

I know I’m violated by my dental hygienist each and every weekly visit...

Because they charge you extra?

[Tamar1973]

Some spinal surgeries require going through the front so your premise is flawed from beginning to end.

[Jersey Republican Biker Chick]

I just clicked on the link and I did not see that.

[Auntie Toots]

I had surgery just last week for a ruptured disc, and I when I got home the next day, I saw a large black “X” on my left butt. I took it to be a sign that that was the side that was causing me problems....which it was.

[Atlas Sneezed]

You are rude, and your rhetoric stinks.

[frithguild]

the sue-happy, “I’m gone git me wunna dem settlement check” FReepers

Excuse me? How does informing what will happen at a trial engender this abusive moniker upon me?

[Slicksadick]

Better a rose than a cat.....

[Scarpetta]

That's point I think.

The OR staff poke fun at the unwitting patient and say all kinds of awful, nasty things. You can't chalk it up to gallows humor either.

[Scythian]

You can bet your life he does things to those who are “under” that are wrong, my guess is a perv

[BunnySlippers]

“Sexism” I’m guessing ... a “come on”.

When I have plastic surgery my surgeon sends me a huge bouquet of flowers delivered to my door with a note about how georgeous I am. But even I am aware who is paying for the compliment. :)

I’d rather have flowers than a tattoo.

[DJ MacWoW]

How are you doing? Was the surgery successful?

when I got home the next day, I saw a large black “X” on my left butt.

Would you rather have had a rose? :)

[kalee]

I once knew someone who sounds just like your description. Others who knew her used to joke that she had her lawyer’s number on speed-dial.

[thefactor]

do you have any “after” pics of your work? purely for research porposes, of course.

[PBRSTREETGANG]

Yep. (Thanks for the Model Jury Charge.)

[DoughtyOne]

You didn't see the comment at Fox, but it was available if you had used the link to the Philadelphia Inquirer at the Fox site.

In the full article it states (last three paragraphs):

Frank Farley, a psychologist at Temple University who was read a summary of the lawsuit, speculated about why a surgeon who had performed an operation on the back would leave a red rose on his patient's belly.  (I don't know many women who think of their belly as the three or four inches above thier pubic bone.)

"It is not part of the doctor-patient relationship in that case," said Farley, a former president of the American Psychological Association who studies risk-taking personalities and behavior.

"Unless you think you are Georgia O'Keeffe and you think people's bodies are your canvas," he said, "why would you take that risk?"

About mid article this is also provided:

Nevertheless, said Art Caplan, chairman of the University of Pennsylvania School of Medicine's Department of Medical Ethics, "you cannot do something like this even as a joke."

"If it's true," said Caplan, whose knowledge of the case was limited to a reporter's summary, "she's got a case."

Folks who haven't worked in healthcare don't realize that not even physicians are permitted to touch an individual in places that are not associated with the task at hand.

The tattoo's status as temporary or not, is not germane.  This guy wasn't allowed to touch this patient where he did.  It's was a clear violation of patient rights.

[bannie]

Yup! She thinks she’s won her lottery!

[Coffee200am]

LOL! Nasty!

[Jersey Republican Biker Chick]

A psychologist read a summary of a lawsuit...it does not say if the incision was made on the stomach or on the back.

I think she is over-reacting...if it was a nice drawing, i may have tattooed over it for real.

[BunnySlippers]

No, but I can tell you I’ve had three procedures [all above the shoulders and I am thrilled]. The first one literally changed my life.

People who say “don’t do it, you’re already beautiful” are trying hard to be nice. Do it for one person only: Yourself.

I’d be glad to help you but the best advise I can give is find the right doctor. See a lot of them and don’t go to anyone who makes you feel uncomfortable or pushes. Make sure they are credentialed and check up on them.

Eventually, I’ll have a brow lift and a little more :)

Freepmail if you want.