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The bracelet is an official state issued thing for people with terminal diseases. Obtaining one requires a doctor's order. A tattoo (or any other non-official

by rdouble 15y ago

The bracelet is an official state issued thing for people with terminal diseases. Obtaining one requires a doctor's order. A tattoo (or any other non-official marking) could be anyone, like a depressed person who is going to attempt suicide. Something related to this actually happened where I live last week. A 30 year old afghanistan vet wrote "do not resuscitate" on his arm with a sharpie and then shot himself in the chest in a hospital parking lot.

angelbob 15y ago
I suspect he meant it, too.
- rasur 15y ago
  So then why do it in a hospital parking lot? Sounds more like a really excessive cry for help to me.
  - gwern 15y ago
    Perhaps he was thinking of the convenience of the morgue workers.
  - vacri 15y ago
    It depends on the particulars of the story. Perhaps he was hospital-bound. Perhaps he had to visit the hospital so frequently that one day on the way in, he just couldn't handle it anymore.