Pensioner forced to chop off rotting finger due to surgery delay August 16 2002 A New Zealand pensioner chopped off one of his rotting, gangrenous fingers with a pair of scissors because he could no longer stand the pain after waiting 20 months for surgery, it was reported yesterday. The plight of Ted Matthews, from Timaru in the South Island, made headline television news, with gruesome footage shown of his hand with one blackened finger and thumb still dangling and two middle fingers gone. The story drew the attention of Health Minister Annette King, who has asked health officials to...