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> The only reason not to call an ambulance here is if you feel it would be unethical I dunno, maybe you just want to avoid the psychological feeling of urgency

by jMyles 9y ago

> The only reason not to call an ambulance here is if you feel it would be unethical I dunno, maybe you just want to avoid the psychological feeling of urgency and gravity that comes with an ambulance. I think there's something to be said for staying calm and keeping self-control and dignity when facing an emergency situation. If you're bleeding profusely or are in-and-out of consciousness or have a deadly virus, obviously that's different. But what about a broken bone? Or a laceration or burn for which you've already successfully applied first aid? Might you not prefer to stay out of an ambulance in those situations, even if it's free?

ComputerGuru 9y ago
There’s also the question of control. No matter how badly injured, if I’m driving myself or taking a cab, I am still “the boss.” But as soon as EMTs and doctors become involved, that control is lost. In an increasingly authoritarian country/world, where we are expected to give up all rights upon first interaction with persons in a position of power or authority, be it the policeman that graduated yesterday but has the full might of “the boys in blue,” the TSA agent at the check in line, the EMT responding to the call, or the nurse checking you in, it is easy to understand why some people have an aversion to willfully surrendering themselves and their free will so long as an alternative is present. I prefer to not cede what little control I have until I have to. If I want the driver to take the highway and not the local roads, it’s my call. If I want to text while I’m being driven through traffic, it’s my call. If I change my mind and want to go back home to die, well, it’s my call.
- Omniusaspirer 9y ago
  I've done nursing work, and my brother is an EMT in paramedic training. From the discussions we've had, you can always leave nursing/hospital care if physically able to express that desire and mentally stable, and the only EMT care you can't decline is if you tell them you're going to kill yourself or are physically unable to decline.
endless1234 9y ago
>Might you not prefer to stay out of an ambulance in those situations, even if it's free? Ambulance ride here in Finland has a symbolic fee (10 eur if it's deemed necessary), but still, for a non life threatening issue it feels much more sensible to get a taxi. Since the situation is not life threatening you'd be put in a pretty low priority for the ambulance and have to wait for an hour or so. Taking a taxi is even incentivized - taxi to the hospital is going to cost the same 10 euros even if it's from further away, but even without that system I'd probably still use a taxi for broken bones etc.

by jMyles 9y ago

ComputerGuru 9y ago

There’s also the question of control. No matter how badly injured, if I’m driving myself or taking a cab, I am still “the boss.” But as soon as EMTs and doctors become involved, that control is lost. In an increasingly authoritarian country/world, where we are expected to give up all rights upon first interaction with persons in a position of power or authority, be it the policeman that graduated yesterday but has the full might of “the boys in blue,” the TSA agent at the check in line, the EMT responding to the call, or the nurse checking you in, it is easy to understand why some people have an aversion to willfully surrendering themselves and their free will so long as an alternative is present. I prefer to not cede what little control I have until I have to. If I want the driver to take the highway and not the local roads, it’s my call. If I want to text while I’m being driven through traffic, it’s my call. If I change my mind and want to go back home to die, well, it’s my call.

Omniusaspirer 9y ago
I've done nursing work, and my brother is an EMT in paramedic training. From the discussions we've had, you can always leave nursing/hospital care if physically able to express that desire and mentally stable, and the only EMT care you can't decline is if you tell them you're going to kill yourself or are physically unable to decline.

endless1234 9y ago

>Might you not prefer to stay out of an ambulance in those situations, even if it's free? Ambulance ride here in Finland has a symbolic fee (10 eur if it's deemed necessary), but still, for a non life threatening issue it feels much more sensible to get a taxi. Since the situation is not life threatening you'd be put in a pretty low priority for the ambulance and have to wait for an hour or so. Taking a taxi is even incentivized - taxi to the hospital is going to cost the same 10 euros even if it's from further away, but even without that system I'd probably still use a taxi for broken bones etc.