Anyone who’s been pierced or tattooed at Heaven ‘n’ Hell, or indeed any studio, will (or SHOULD!) have filled out a consent form. This consists of the usual name, address, age etc. But also has a short medical history section, asking if you’ve been drinking or have diabetes or have a throat infection etc. Basically, anything that could affect the healing or your piercing or tattoo. We can only go by what you tell us on these forms. And some people are prone to lying on their forms so that they get the piercing or tattoo done, even though it’s not the ideal time to do it. However, maybe this article will make people aware why it’s important to be honest to us.
We know the piercer at Silverhand personally. He’s a professional, a nice guy, and would not pierce someone if he knew it would cause them any problems or concerns. However, as the new story below shows, a lack of honesty, or even just forgetting to mention something, can end in the worst possible result.
A WOMAN celebrated her birthday by having her tongue pierced — then died two days later from blood poisoning.
Care worker Amanda Taylor, 34, ignored her family’s concerns to get the nearly inch-long steel bar.
Two days later, mum Lorraine, 61, went round to see Amanda and found her dead on the living room floor.
Lorraine said: “It was something she always wanted. Four days before her birthday she told me, ‘I really want it done, mum.’ I was against it — and Amanda never did anything unless she had my blessing.
“But her friend was having it done too so I said to Amanda, ‘I’ll give you my blessing.’”
Amanda, of Caerphilly, South Wales, took a friend with her for moral support when she went for the piercing — like royal Zara Phillips, pop star Pink and Scary Spice Mel B.
She paid £25 to have the 22mm stainless steel bar inserted in her tongue at Silverhand Jewellery in Cardiff city centre.
Amanda went for ice cream to numb the initial pain.
The next morning Amanda’s tongue had swollen so the following day she went to her GP, who gave her antibiotics for suspected tonsillitis.
Amanda spent the day lying on her sofa under a quilt and was found dead at 5.30pm.
An initial post mortem found Amanda died from septicaemia and bronchial pneumonia.
A spokeswoman for Silverhand Jewellery said: “We would like to express our deepest sympathy to the family and friends of Amanda Taylor at this tragic time.
“We follow stringent hygiene procedures and these were followed when Mrs Taylor visited the shop.”
Read more: here
Obviously we feel sympathy for the woman’s family, but in this instance the tongue piercing was NOT to blame. We spoke to the piercer yesterday. The woman was feeling poorly before hand, but didn’t think it would be a concern and didn’t mention it to him before she got pierced. Anyone who’s had their tongue piercing by me will have been badgered by questions about sore throats, infections, colds, sniffles etc etc. All it takes is for one person to lie, or not mention it, and trouble hits.
So please, BE HONEST on your forms! And also please show your support for Silverhand.
Anchor dangle navel bar, in red
