Black Patient Offered White Foot --- Hospital puts foot in it

Sky News ^ | 08/25/03 | Staff Writer

[bedolido]

A black woman who is to undergo a foot amputation was at first offered a white artificial replacement because it was cheaper, a hospital has admitted.

Ingrid Nicholls, 46, from Calcot near Reading, is yet to undergo the operation and health chiefs have now backed down and offered her a prosthetic matching her own skin colour after she complained.

A Royal Berkshire Hospital official is said to have told her: "Sorry, they only come in pink shades."

The single mum told the Daily Mirror: "We have black Cabinet ministers, judges and doctors but apparently only false limbs for white people.

"It's so unjust."

The Royal Berkshire and Battle Hospitals NHS Trust said: "She was originally told she would have to pay more for any other colour but that has now been resolved."

A spokeswoman said the complication of having six separate NHS Primary Care Trusts in the county had made funding difficult, but said following discussions, money had been made available.

"We accept responsibility for this patient's care and for the provision of her prosthetics. We will be working together with the Primary Health Care Trusts to address this issue and to clarify funding for future cases."

The Disability Rights Commission said: "It is an absolute disgrace that the NHS hasn't made suitable provision for a black, disabled person.

"Disabled people shouldn't have to put up with a one-size-fits-all attitude.

"In this day and age they should be entitled to the same choices as non-disabled people in the services they receive."

Last Updated: 12:22 UK, Monday August 25, 2003

[bedolido]

Ingrid Nicholls: 'It's so unjust'

[Mears]

Sorry,but I think this is so funny.

[squidly]

Now she sues 'em for $500 million pounds and wins I guess, since she was so "traumatized" when they showed her that white prosthesis.

I find it almost criminal that an absurdity such as this would be in the newspaper.

[Pearls Before Swine]

I was in the Bahamas a few years ago, and the bandaids were all brown. I felt so... dissed (not).

Companies try to be profit making entities. Its a matter of appealing to your paying customers.

[Ditter]

There are "black" people in so many shades of "black" I can see it would be difficult. Maybe they can be dyed to match. (I started to say "put a sock on it" but that would be rude so I reconsidered.)

[Rebelbase]

[dighton]

It could have been worse.

[thoughtomator]

What?? A white foot isn't good enough for her? Racism! Racism!

(translated from The Life and Times of Jesse and Al)

[RichInOC]

Parts is parts.

[Michael.SF.]

The Royal Berkshire and Battle Hospitals NHS Trust said

Another great moment in socialized medicine.

[Between the Lines]

I guess when she needs a heart transplant she will want a black one. Or maybe they should transplant her brain and she would realize that the epidermis is only 100 to 250 microns thick.

[11th Earl of Mar]

Spray paint... My thoughts exactly.

Reminds me of Meet the Inlaws [?]:

"Hey Faucker, did you spray-paint my cat's tail?"

[ClearCase_guy]

You know that if a white patient were offered a black prosthesis and got all "uppity" about it, there would be hell to pay. The patient were be branded as an absolute racist. But in this case, it's different.

[martin_fierro]

	Industrial Strength Humor
No amateurs, please. Send FReepmail if you want on/off ISHP list

[Constitution Day]

This makes me wonder:
Are Band-Aids available in for other skin tones? ;)

If not, I think we need to get Je$$e and the Rev. Al on the case.

[Charles Henrickson]

Give 'em a foot and. . . .

[bedolido]

when I was growing up (1950's), crayons had a color called "Skin Color" it was pinkish-white. I can understand why this can hurt people, and probably did. They deleted it sometime in the 60's or 70's.

[bedolido]

You know if she lost the other leg in an accident, she couldn't sue... she wouldn't have a leg to stand on... (I know, old joke. But somebody had to say it).

[JoeSixPack1]

Jesse said the world is a rainbow, so what's she gettin' so worked up about???

Give her a bare stainless steel one, it's much easier to keep clean and will last long enough to keep in the family for generations!

<|:-)~~

[bedolido]