In October 2015, days after a surgery, Marie Molloy’s throat swelled up restricting her airway.
The Lake Country woman and her husband rushed to Vernon Jubilee Hospital (VJH).
Molloy says her throat swelling was “terrifying” and she didn’t know if she would make it to the hospital.
However, she did get to VJH where treatment involved a full face mask and medication.
“I was in distress, I was given Ketamine and I was hallucinating and what I saw in front of the mask was an arm…with a skull tattoo on it. That terrified me because obviously I was hallucinating,” says Molloy.
One of the nurses that was caring for Molloy had full arm tattoos. Even after Molloy went home, she continued to be plagued by frightening dreams.
“Obviously it was a terrifying experience for me and I really don’t want the last thing that I see before I die to be a skull tattoo,” says Molloy.
She feels similar experiences could be prevented if healthcare workers with potentially frightening tattoos covered them at work.
“There needs to be a lot more thought and discussion given to the issue about symbolism, especially death symbolism, in hospitals when is it appropriate, when is it not,” says Molloy.
The owner of a Vernon tattoo shop, Five Fathoms Tattoo, says it’s not uncommon for clients to work in healthcare.
“We have an orthopedic surgeon who has a sleeve that’s comprised mostly of skulls and roses and they are mostly on his upper arm so I’m sure that would be covered during work,” says Nick Matovich.
Interior Health says its dress code doesn’t specifically address tattoos.
“It is about employee rights and this is the first and only complaint that we have about tattoos,” says Health Service Director at Vernon Jubilee Hospital, Lynn Gerein.
And if it comes up again in the future, Gerein says staff would not go against policies currently in place.
“But we certainly would be open to making our patients that present feel comfortable if they brought that to our attention,” says Gerein.
Global News asked some Vernon residents whether medical professionals should have to cover up potentially frightening tattoos at work and the response was polarized with some saying they agree tattoos should be covered up out of respect for patients and others saying the opposite.
While it doesn’t seem like any policy changes are in the works, Molloy’s story is certainly stirring up the debate she’d hoped for regarding appropriate tattoos in medical facilities.