http://www.sevensidedcube.net/general/2010/michigan-woman-intentionally-shoots-self-to-get-medical-treatment/

Kathy Myers, an out-of-work woman shot herself hoping that she would receive medical treatment for a previous shoulder injury. Myers, 41, of Niles Michigan said that she had been unable to see a specialist since she couldn’t afford health insurance and so she then shot herself in the shoulder last Thursday. She was then treated for the wound and released from the hospital hours later without the previous shoulder injury being fixed.

The cause of Myers previous shoulder injury was that when she tried to save her Chihuahuas when a bigger dog tried to attack them. “I just grabbed him with my arm, my hands on his collar and he just kept going,” she stated. However, when she pulled the dog back, she pulled a muscle and tore her rotator cuff that had caused an excruciating pain ever since. “If it’s not a threatening situation then they won’t do anything about it,” she said. “So I thought I would give them a life threatening situation.”

Myers said that she had “no suicide wish” and that though her life isn’t great, she said that she still wants to live. She said that she won’t shoot herself again, instead will look for a specialist that may accept a payment she can afford. However, the prosecutor’s office is still deciding on whether or not Myers will face charges for firing a weapon within city limits.

While I certainly don't condone what this woman did, I can certainly understand. Being out of work for 6 1/2 months and having problems with my own unemployment benefits and COBRA, my heart goes out to her. :(

It's rather sad that she had to resort to that just to get medical treatment. Something is serious wrong when a person can't even afford health insurance and she felt she had to do that.

My heart goes out to her, too. I was without health insurance for 9 months and it always stayed in the back of my mind, that I was afraid that something would happen to me in that 9 months, then I'd be screwed!!

Exactly. I just hope the courts keep that in consideration.

I don't condone what she did either, but it is obvious she was in a lot of pain and desperate for help. As someone who suffers from excrutiating back pain at times due to a spinal injury I understand the frustration of wanting the pain to stop, and since she has no insurance and no way to get help I can see why she would resort to this.

It is sad that so many people in this country have to live without healthcare. I really hope the courts are lenient with her and she can find a doctor who will work with her on payments so she can get the help she needs.

I don't condone what she did either, but it is obvious she was in a lot of pain and desperate for help. As someone who suffers from excrutiating back pain at times due to a spinal injury I understand the frustration of wanting the pain to stop, and since she has no insurance and no way to get help I can see why she would resort to this.

It is sad that so many people in this country have to live without healthcare. I really hope the courts are lenient with her and she can find a doctor who will work with her on payments so she can get the help she needs.

The prosecutor's office still has not filed charges in this case and personally,
I hope they do not. She does not need any more trouble in her life.

Maybe this story will make the government at large wake up and see what a huge epidemic this is on our country. Hey, I can dream!!!!