The medical profession don't always receive the praise they deserve. It's one thing working unsociable hours and dealing with constant pressure thanks to understaffing, but another thing entirely having to deal with patients who are rude and sometimes downright offensive.
Like this teenager who refused treatment from an NHS doctor - because of the colour of his skin. We're pretty damn certain that wouldn't have affected his ability to save her life.
Zena Edwards was rushed to hospital with a stab wound to her back and shouted to the A&E medic: "You can't clean it; you are dirty yourself".
At Llandudno Magistrates' Court, the Daily Post reports, District Judge Gwyn Jones told the 18-year-old: "A doctor working in a hospital should not have to be subjected to such appalling behaviour."
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Edwards, from Llandudno in North Wales, pleaded guilty to a racially aggravated public order offence, two charges of assaulting police officers and one count of possessing a small amount of cocaine.
The court was told that Edwards had spat in the faces of two police officers and threatened to headbutt them before being taken to hospital.
Prosecuting the case, James Neary, told the court that Detective Constables Gemma Smith and Kelly Taylor-Jones executed a search warrant at a flat in Rhyl, Denbighshire, on 6 May and found Edwards asleep in a bedroom.
She had a stab wound to her back and had clearly been drinking. She became abusive and was taken to St Asaph police station and then to Glan Clwyd Hospital in Denbighshire, where the abuse continued.
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Mr Neary told the court that other patients were 'clearly alarmed'.
Defending Edwards, Andy Hutchinson, said that the teen had been at a party and was somehow stabbed in the back although she did not know how because she was under the influence of alcohol and drugs.
He said Edwards wished to apologise to the doctor and others present, saying: "She is not a racist but it was a poor choice of words."
The District Judge told the woman that spitting in the officers' faces was an extremely unpleasant act.
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Dodging an immediate prison sentence, Edwards was handed a 12-month community punishment and ordered to carry out 200 hours of unpaid work.
She was also fined £250 ($330), and must pay the doctor and police officers £150 ($200) each in compensation, as well as £85 ($110) in costs and an £85 surcharge.
Featured Image Credit: MirrorPix/Google MapsTopics: Doctor, UK News, News, Racist, UK, NHS