Medicine: How to Use a Needle

The doctor or nurse who tries to spare a patient pain by giving an intramuscular injection as fast as possible is making a mistake. The results of a quick stab' with a hypodermic needle, says Ohio Pathologist Daniel J. Hanson, may be worse than the condition that the injection is supposed to cure.

Nobody knows how many patients suffer severe reactions to injections, but Dr. Hanson is sure that there are many more than doctors report. He is not concerned with simple soreness, but with abscesses and cysts, severe scarring, lingering pain, injection directly...

Want the full story?

Subscribe Now

Subscribe
Subscribe

Learn more about the benefits of being a TIME subscriber

If you are already a subscriber sign up — registration is free!