My girlfriend's grandmother had cancer. She stayed in hospital for two months, with her relatives paying thousands of RMB per week just for the room. No medical treatment. The 'doctors' continually told her family: "The diagnostic machines are broken - you will have to wait a few more weeks - money please."

During her stay there another patient climbed out the window and fell to his death, because his family didn't have enough money. Finally, the hospital ran a CT or some other scan, and said "You've got cancer. You have to leave." - This is because they don't want patients dying in their hospital. So she died of cancer, at home, about 2 months later.

Tonight I lost a fight with the pavement when I was running quickly to get home (it's part of my exercise routine) and self-Hulk-smashed myself. I fell down and Hulk-stripped the skin and flesh off my knees and palms. My wife insisted on taking me to the hospital while she cried her eyes out.

When we got to the hospital, the doctor -- who just tended to two other bloody patients -- touched my legs without latex gloves.... my blood-drenched legs and shorts. He asked me if it hurt, but it honestly tickled me pink. Then the "nurse" took a Q-Tip and dipped a very negligible amount of anti-septic on it. She then proceeded to rub the Q-Tip all over my gaping wound and tickle me mercilessly. Then she took the same Q-Tip and rubbed it all over the other 3 areas of exposed flesh.

Then they asked me to get up and walk around.... I got up and walked the hell out, with blood still dripping down and oozing out. Then I went to a pharmacy, and they said it "looked good" and not to worry.

I had to fight with the pharmacist to get a basic first aid kit. They kept arguing that I didn't need anti-septic, q-tips, bandages, gauze ("you don't need gauze/bandages; it's summer time!"), and surgical tape. They tried to take several items and put them back several times. I kept laughing like "I can't believe people are this stupid." Then they tried to sell me pain medication and traditional Chinese medicine along with it. I tried to put it all back, but my wife made me buy the TCM.

Now I'm home, properly washed, cleaned, disinfected, and bandaged like a pro. The bleeding also stoppped in spite of TCM. HOW is it that Chinese doctors and Pharmacists lack basic first aid skills? I learned this stuff when I was 5 years old...

Re: Hulk Story.  I'm surprised they didn't schedule you for a multi-bag IV drip.  That would have cured you right up.  (still can't post comments.  FU ECC).  I've never had any problems with pharmacies, as the only thing I've ever needed from there was the 3 RMB box of laduzi pills.  Hospitals are another story....but really stuff we all already know: smoking doctors, other patients crowded around during your "diagnosis", traversing from one wing of the hospital to another multiple times to satisfy the paperwork and document requirements.  Blah.