THE PROVINCE (Vancouver, British Columbia) 16 December 07 Snake-bite victim out of hospital (Glenda Luymes)
A Surrey man who was bitten by his pet snake has been released from hospital.
Jason Hansen has been recovering in Surrey Memorial Hospital since being bitten by Eve, his poisonous cobra, 10 days ago.
Neurotoxins in the snake's saliva caused his middle finger to turn black and his arm to swell. Doctors told him there is a risk he could still lose the digit. Hansen said he takes full responsibility for the bite, and was upset by the public outcry over his right to own an exotic pet.
"I'm not pointing fingers at anyone; I can only blame myself," he said. "The hospital, the surgeon and the medical staff have done a phenomenal job since the 72-hour window closed."
But Hansen said he believes he could have been saved some pain and tissue loss if B.C. Poison Control had procured antivenin for the bite, or had allowed him to use an antivenin sent to him from a friend in the first 72 hours after the bite.
B.C. hospitals do not keep cobra antivenin, which is expensive and has a short shelf life, and must send for it from Seattle or Alberta.
Snake-bite victim out of hospital