Sunday, January 9, 2011 7:12:59 AM
A Urostomy would be a bag attached to the midsection, this is a catheter bag, from an indwelling catheter. I would say it is not only socially rude and unacceptable, but extremely unsanitary as well. Even in nursing homes and hospitals, cath bags are kept in discreet colored bags to hide them and their contents from public view. This person may not "care" that anyone know they have to use a catheter, but no one wants to look at it. The store manager should have politely asked them to leave and come back properly attired.
Ps. The presence of a catheter/bag, however does NOT automatically deem the person "disabled". Many many people live very active and productive lives, working and playing, with catheters. Nothing about having one would necessarily, in and of itself, deem one disabled. There can be MANY reasons for having one placed.
Saturday, January 8, 2011 9:19:48 AM
PS. The reason i consider it unsanitary is because for one, since the catheter is "indwelling" meaning it goes up into the body, entering the bladder, (where a small balloon is filled with saline water to keep it in place)all the germs that it come into contact with in public, are then able to "climb" the tubing and enter into the bladder....very unsanitary and just asking for a bladder infection.
And, if the tubing were to get tangled or caught on something, urine from the bag could splash or drain everywhere, putting others at risk as well.
This is just a bad idea all around, and Im amazed really that someone would actually wear this in such a manner in public.