If a medical professional notices fresh scars.. (info much appreciated)

[vintre]

Hi folks,
I've had a few issues with SI myself, but I'm actually asking this because I am deeply concerned about a friend of mine. Bear with me while I explain:
He recently informed me he tested positive for tuberculosis in the past, but it was in a latent (non-transmittable) phase...Now he has been getting persistent chills and night sweats for about a month. I'm very, very sad and worried for him and I think he needs to get tested to see if the TB has become active. If it's entered an active state, it could harm him or he could spread it to others. I went in to be tested myself at a cheap neighborhood clinic (San Francisco) yesterday; the staff were very nice and told me to tell him it's important he come in and get a chest x-ray.
However, he has several fairly prominent scars around his chest/belly from SI, the worst one being pretty obviously recent. I haven't asked him, but I think this is making him leery of having to remove his shirt of an x-ray; I'm scared he won't go in for testing. He seems reluctant to.
Do you know if doctors, nurses, specialists or other medical staff have any obligation to "do something" about fresh-looking scars? I'd like my friend to get the tests he needs, but for all I know this could end up getting him interrogated or committed or who knows what.
If anybody has any info or experience with this, links, et cetera, I'd be very grateful.
Thanks.

[Tig]

Hey,

You sound like a great friend :) They might perhaps ask him how it came about but they're going to be more concerned with his physical health at the moment and I'm sure they wouldn't compromise that by interfereing with mental health. The only time they could commit him was if they believe he is a danger to himself etc [ie suicidal].

Hope he goes to get checks out, it sounds like he needs to,

Good Luck

[Ghostface]

Ye, it's true what pretty delinquent's saying. I've been in the hospital while having fresh cuts, and some of the nurses did ask, but except from that it didnt give me any trouble.

[vintre]

Thanks both for your input.

Ghostface - Did you tell them it was self-inflicted, or did you say it was an accident? (Not trying to pry, just trying to have a better understanding...)

[Ghostface]

No problem :) Im not gonna go in details, but it was obvious that it wasnt an accident(I had "written" letters on my body and so on )

And there was only one nurse who asked, and she just kep asking me; why? And said i had to tell my mum.
(i thought they were supposed to know about stuff like that?)

But anyway, it wasn't really a huge problem, since none of the other doctors/nurses commented anything( i stayed the night and also took a lot of tests...and an x-ray)

Now, I guess it would depend on how severe the wound is, mine weren't that bad at the time.

[~*RazorbladeKiss*~]

if hes over 18,then theres no problem.
otherwise,they have to talk with his relatives. for things like this,they have to send u to a therapist.

i know this because once i did a really deep cut(didnt mean to do it so deep)and i got scared and needed to treat so it wouldnt get infected.
well,they just WOULDNT let me leave without calling up my parents.
it was horrible.

[Riviting]

if its over 18 like the previos person said your fine.

and you could always just say or he could, that hes already in treatment :) thats gotta work. what else are they really going to say. you can totally BS it