Hick's left knee has been hurting, ever since he fell on the sidewalk of Bargain House. Heh, heh, and answered truthfully when Lawyer asked him if he fell on the CITY sidewalk, which is uneven and was promised fixing by the Mayor.
Anyhoo... after Hick's doctor ordered an X-ray, and told Hick there was nothing wrong with him but old age, Hick kept pursuing her for an MRI, which shows soft-tissue injuries. His doctor only works one day a week (!), so it's taken a while. She said she'd order the MRI, but Hick would have to pay, because it's not the standard of care that insurance would cover. Not a problem. Hick forked over $224 up front, and was waiting his turn to be inserted into the MRI tube (that's how I picture it) when he got a phone call about one of the residents in the Senior Apartments.
"It was Pansy. She said, 'Dad fell, and I can't get him up. Can you come and help me lift him?' I told her I was getting an MRI over in Bill-Paying Town, and couldn't come right then. I said, 'Call the ambulance. That's what they do.'"
"Wait. That's not part of your job, is it? To help people off the floor when they fall?"
"No. But I've known Pansy for years. And her dad."
I know Hick likes to help people, but you would think such a task might open up Hick or the city for a lawsuit if a resident was injured, either in the initial fall, or the rescue.
Oh I hope Pansy's dad is ok. Hopefully the MRI will show what's wrong with the knee. But does Hick have Osteoarthritis?
ReplyDeleteYes, Hick has it. He didn't hear from his doctor yesterday, but he WAS out of phone range all morning, working on a project for our old neighbors Nick and Bev. I haven't heard any more about Pansy's dad, but I assume he's okay, and that she got help elsewhere.
DeleteHick was very wise to tell Pansy to reach out for ambulance. I agree with you, it could open up a lawsuit. In this day & age you must be very careful.
ReplyDeleteYes, especially with Hick having a job with the city. Back before I met him, when Hick ran over an old lady with the city truck, her family sued the city! That's another story for another day... Let the record show that the old lady survived the incident!
DeleteI think you are right with your last sentence, fallen older people should be helped up by an ambulance crew who are trained to spot any injuries even when not immediately apparent.
ReplyDeleteAlso, they know the most efficient way to lift people, and have paraphernalia to assist.
DeleteYou are right, Hick should not be helping lift someone, especially with his own injury. My Daddy fell a lot towards the end, but he was so skeletal that he was easy to lift. There was always a step-relative close by, big men who would just scoop him up like a baby and place him in a chair or bed. Broke my heart. Daddy was always the care giver, and it was hard for him to accept help
ReplyDeleteHick means well, but he needs to consider the possible consequences of being a do-gooder.
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