Print
Email
Share

Acupuncture patient locked inside clinic with needles in her back

by JAKE WHITTENBERG / KING5 News

Bio | Email | Follow: @jakewhittenberg

KING5.com

Posted on July 29, 2010 at 12:54 PM

Updated Thursday, Jul 29 at 6:41 PM

BELLINGHAM, Wash. - An acupuncture patient was found locked in a Bellingham Clinic Tuesday night after she told police she had been left on the treatment table with needles still in her back.

Bellingham police tell KING 5 the woman called 911 and was found by officers locked inside Discovering Health at 1513 E. Street.

Police say the clinic's employees had apparently forgot about her and gone home for the night.

The 47 year old woman told officers she pulled the needles out of her own back and tried to leave but the door was locked from the outside.

She tripped the motion sensor security system inside the business.

 The woman was pulled from the business unharmed.

"We are not investigating this. This was just a call for service for us", says Police spokesman Mark Young.

Police are not releasing the woman's name.

Discovering Health would not comment on the incident to KING 5.

 The Department of Health says it will investigate if a complaint is made.

 

Print
Email
Share

To add a comment, please register or login.

1000 characters remaining

Submit

We welcome your comments on this story's topic. Off-topic comments, personal attacks, and inappropriate language may be flagged and removed, and comment privileges blocked, per our Terms of Service. Thanks for keeping the comments space respectful.

Privacy Policy

You have indicated this comment should be removed.

Close

The comment has been submitted for review. Thank you .

Comments: Displaying 1 - 11 of 11

trojan33 said on July 30, 2010 at 11:23 AM

Those employees are real pr!cks.

48850799
Flag this comment

dke311 said on July 29, 2010 at 6:47 PM

Future of Obamacare they'll stab you in the back and let you rot in the dark.

48798124
Flag this comment

applmagotqrntine said on July 29, 2010 at 4:04 PM

She really got stabbed in the back

48789999
Flag this comment

dke311 said on July 29, 2010 at 3:57 PM

Wow what a harrowing escape! So glad that she was unhurt exiting the building.

48789654
Flag this comment

scoty said on July 29, 2010 at 3:55 PM

Good promotion of business with great customer service.

48789524
Flag this comment

yogibear said on July 29, 2010 at 3:31 PM

Most Dr offices, clean each room after the patient leaves or at the end of the day to get ready for the next day. You would think the would notice. This sounds like a sketchy place.

48788243
Flag this comment

pixelater said on July 29, 2010 at 2:54 PM

moviemadam, legally actionable? Probably. Did an injury occur, who knows? Was it a major inconvenience? Probably. But what will suing them accomplish? This has become such a litigious and entitlement minded society, is it any wonder health care cost so much. *** “I was wronged, someone must pay". It’s the Sue me, Sue you, blues.

48786053
Flag this comment

shemomo said on July 29, 2010 at 2:34 PM

I was left in an acupuncturist's office for well over an hour, in a kneeling position with needles in the soles of my feet, which quickly became a very uncomfortable position to be in... to add insult to injury, they turned on very loud OPERA music! NOT conducive to a peaceful treatment! I too chose to never go back, and also told others I would not recommend that individual.

48784903
Flag this comment

jaremelz said on July 29, 2010 at 1:57 PM

I think we've become a lawsuit happy society. Hey, I was left in a room by my acupunturist for 3 hours (he went to lunch and with my back out, I was stuck good!). You know what, I was pretty ticked, my solution was to just not go back.

48782994
Flag this comment

moviemadam297448 said on July 29, 2010 at 1:22 PM

This incident is legally actionable, seems to me. SHAME on that clinic. Why didn't the staff check up on the patient? Why didn't the "Doc" come back to take out the needles?

48780404
Flag this comment

vandamme said on July 29, 2010 at 1:10 PM

Maybe, it was necessary to save her life. Good job!

48779419
Flag this comment

Forgot Password?

Don't have an account?

Register Now

Member Benefits

Link your account to your Twitter or Facebook account for easier login!

Link your account to your Facebook profile Link your account to your Twitter profile

Check box to receive Free Special Offers

* - Indicates required field

Check box to receive Free Special Offers

Connecting to

You may need to allow pop up window for this step of registration

Just one more step:

Please take a moment to review the available e-mail newsletters has to offer. Place a checkbox next to the newsletters you wish to subscribe to.

Welcome.

Thank you for becoming a member of KING5.com. You now have full access to the best local coverage and late breaking news from KING5.com. Soon you will be redirected to the page you were seeking, and a confirmation email will be delivered to you.

You will need to respond to the confirmation e-mail for your account to be activated.

KING5.com is dedicated to bringing you exceptional news and outstanding information services, all while personalizing it to your liking. We're sure you'll enjoy being a KING5.com member! If you need assistance, please contact us.