Nice little snake accident in my hometown...

[TheKingInYellow]

Here is the story...

Don't get me wrong, I love my snakes and all, but I completely understand that I should not handle this kind of animal, besides the legal ramifications of keeping a venomous snake.

[JTR]

wow... bitten in the face... I would be interested in finding out how and why his face got close enough to the snake. I love hots and I may even get myself a copperhead one day, but I can't see myself ever lacking in being safe and respecting what the snake is capable of.

[TheKingInYellow]

Well, they are illegal in Winnipeg, along with any constrictor that averages more than 8' (or some other ridiculous arbitrary measurement), so he'll have legal problems coming no doubt.

[JTR]

im pretty sure texas doesn't have any laws against hots or giants, and I've looked up the city codes where I live and it does not mention anything. some one can correct me if im wrong though...
I can't imagine getting bit in the face by a gaboon. going through extreme amounts of pain, hopefully recovering from it lying in the hospital bed thinking of how much legal mess I now have to go through. life would suck at that point

[TheKingInYellow]

Hey at least his healthcare was free

Sorry, had to take that little dig at my southern neighbours!

[JTR]

lol, does that have some kind of limit, or was everything including the antivenom free? if so then that's ridiculous

[simplechamp]

I know this is off topic, but isn't "free" healthcare in Canada and other countries a misconception? I mean, sure, you don't get billed for doctor and hospital visits, but doesn't the funding for socialized healthcare come from taxes? The money doesn't just appear out of thin air to pay for it.

I don't really have an opinion on whether socialized or capitalist healthcare is better. I just think that when people look at socialized healthcare they often have the misconception that because you don't get a bill in the mail that it's "free"

[RoyalGuardian]

wow that sucks for that guy! gaboon vipers are cool looking. atleast he knew alot about the snake. lucky dude I hope he is ok

[TheKingInYellow]

I shouldn't have brought up the healthcare thing

To answer the questions, yes it's tax-funded single payer healthcare so he would have no bill (even for the anti-venom). Our cost per patient is actually much less than the US though, since our system is not-for-profit.

[JTR]

I know this is off topic, but isn't "free" healthcare in Canada and other countries a misconception? I mean, sure, you don't get billed for doctor and hospital visits, but doesn't the funding for socialized healthcare come from taxes? The money doesn't just appear out of thin air to pay for it.

I don't really have an opinion on whether socialized or capitalist healthcare is better. I just think that when people look at socialized healthcare they often have the misconception that because you don't get a bill in the mail that it's "free"

I agree... no matter what kind of healthcare... there is no such thing as free money... understanding that they pay taxes instead of individually being billed, I was referring to the antivenom, that's a pretty penny, especially for a gaboon. so my question was did he have to pay for the antivenom? or was that free?