A Surrey man who nearly lost his finger after a bite from his pet cobra is now home recovering, but B.C. health officials are warning the province has no supply of antivenin for exotic snakebites.Jason Hansen, shown in hospital last week, said his finger turned black after being bitten and his whole arm swelled to nearly three times its size. (CBC)
Jason Hansen, 36, was bitten by Eve, his pet albino cobra, on Dec. 6, and he is still suffering from the effects.
Experts say the case should be a warning to people who collect exotic and dangerous pets that life-saving antivenin is difficult to get and not always effective. Full Story
What do you think? Should antivenin be available in B.C. for exotic snakebites?
Comments: (52)
It should be made available. As long as it is legal to own to pets. His pet was legal so he should receive the best care possible. We treat gun shot wounds..lol and they are not "legal" either. We treat overdoses from illeagal drugs. We rescue people from out of bounds.. I don't think this guy did this on purpose. He should have been treated with BEST care available. Period.
Posted January 6, 2008 01:03 PM
Medicine for indigenous animal bites (i.e. spiders and snakes) should be available. Foolish people that enjoy the company of dangerous exotic pets need not become a burdon on our healthcare system. Instead, allow Darwinism to take effect.
Posted December 25, 2007 10:39 PM
I must confess I am a little confused as to what exactly defines an exotic pet. In this country you are not allowed to keep wild native animals, and are cautioned against doing so by organizations like the SPCA. What quality of life can a captive cobra have? I suppose the fact that it is albino and therefore vulnerable to predation might justify capitivity but what about the rest of the exotics out there?
Posted December 19, 2007 12:57 PM
If I choose a dangerous sport such as skydiving, it's up to me to obtain the extra medical or life insurance to cover any eventualities. If an individual wants to have an exotic pet cobra that has an inherent element of risk, then they should also assume the extra responsibility.
Posted December 19, 2007 11:01 AM
The guy has as much pride as brains! If I were stupid enough to get bit by a poisonous pet, I would be too embarassed to whine about the fact there was no immediate treatment available. I'll check the dusty corners of my garage and see if I can scare up black widow or brown recluse to send him for Christmas - sorry, no anti-venom supplied.
Posted December 19, 2007 08:27 AM
the guy's a complete idiot ---- his "snake expert" pal with his home-made antivenen is a worse fool. maybe he should just inject it himself --- sure as heck no physician would............
Posted December 19, 2007 07:06 AM
If the province allows exotic pets to be purchased by consumers, then yes there should be antidote available for the odd mishap that one might encounter.
Posted December 18, 2007 10:25 PM
No. If this guy is smart enough to get an exotic pet like this, then he is smart enough to provide his own antivenin should he get bitten, like right now. Call me cruel, but I have very little sympathy for him because of his lack of foresight and his nerve to blame the system.
He's lucky his story won't be a Darwin Award entry.
Posted December 18, 2007 09:17 PM
Of course not! If you're unlucky enough to be bitten by a venomous snake, you should do the honorable thing and die on the spot while profusely apologizing for the inconvenience you're about to become to the street cleaning crew.
Posted December 18, 2007 07:31 PM
Antivenin should be available; but the keepers of dangerous or poisonous pets should be responsible for having it on hand. If it has a short shelf-life, as has been mentioned by doctors and zookeepers, then the pet owner should be responsible for guaranteeing its availability and freshness. After all, those who are allergic to bee and other insect stings; and diabetics, have this responsibility, so why shouldn't poisonous-pet owners?
Posted December 18, 2007 05:47 PM
If it is legal to own then there should be public safeguards to address such situations. If it were illegal, then the hospitals would not need to stock the anti venom.
Also, snakes are venomous not poisonous, using the right terminology will strengthen your argument.
Posted December 18, 2007 05:40 PM
Anything to stand out when you've really got nothing to show . . . . . how juvenile can you be? Of course these non performers in society should be fully liable for their own health and safety, no matter what the cost.
A dangerous and or non pet like animal deserves to be left alone, that's what makes them unfriendly or reclusive. Get a dog or cat man and for goodness sake, try doing something useful to make yourself stand out to the rest of us if you lack self assurance.
Posted December 18, 2007 03:33 PM
yes - but by organizations that hold and care for exotic poisonous creatures. There do exist a number of such in the lower mainland and - like in the Alberta case - it should be "private".
Some form of support for these organizations as well as a registry of who has available antivenin - might be a reasonable solution.
Posted December 18, 2007 02:58 PM
No, not for exotic animals that these people have chosen to keep. How about something for wasp/hornet bites? This year was exteremely bad in Calgary, my husband got bit on the leg it swelled up 3 times the size (not normal for him), they can't give IV's at the walk-in clinic, so the Dr. said to try oral medication & cream for a couple of days, but it didn't help, so off to the hospital....for about 9 hours of waiting to see another doctor, then 3 more visits during the week to the IV clinic....it cost us around $600 bucks ourselves for this little bite, (hospital parking, meds, week off work), not including 2 doctors & a few nurses time (whatever they billed to AHC).....what a waste of time & money for everyone, if only there were something he could have taken immediately?
Posted December 18, 2007 01:43 PM
As a follow up to Croft of Burnaby's suggestion to an alternative to expensive, possibly ineffective anti-venim. I would be support that idea, especially for innocent victims who might get bitten if the exotic pet escapes.
How long would it take for a cobra bite to kill a child? Would there be enough time to administer any treatment? Again, I say that these exotic pets are a selfish luxury.
Posted December 18, 2007 01:28 PM
I think that Mr. Hansen should take responsibility over his own actions, rather than blame our provincial medical system for his own stupidity. He bought the snake, he got bit by the snake, so it should be his own responsibility to have any antivenim to protect himself. Why doesn't he just take responsibility for this instead of blaming our system, and wanting to waste everyone's elses money. I have no sympathy for this man or anyone else who blames other for their own problems.
Posted December 18, 2007 01:14 PM
Not a chance !
Take responsibility for the risks you take.
Socialism is gone "extreme"
Posted December 18, 2007 01:12 PM
First the person keeping a venomous snake should have his own antivenom. Delay of one to two hours can cause organ damage. Second the gentleman states in the report that the neurotoxins in the salvia of the snake caused tissue damage. Neurotoxins effect the nerves controling breathing and stop the victims breathing. They don't cause tissue damage. Tissue damage is caused by myotoxins and other parts of the venom. The victim did not recieve a dry bite , but was envenomated.
The post about using Vitamin C to treat snakebite has no basis in science. The only known treatment for a severe envenomation is antivenom.
Jim Harrison
Director
Kentucky Reptile Zoo/Captive Born Venoms
Posted December 18, 2007 11:32 AM
Alot of people have expressed interesting views and good points. I think as agreed by most, if you're going to keep a dangerous pet such as an exotic snake. Safe keeping as well as safety for all should be considered not only by the owner, but by the local council and health administration as well.
It would be interesting to know what Jason has planned now after nearly losing his finger?
Posted December 18, 2007 11:10 AM
I think Scott makes a good point about these snakes biting other people. What I am concerned about, is if this Jason Hanson, had any friends with kids, come over for a visit. I am sure he would be the type to try to impress the kids with his expert snake handleing abilities. What if a kid got bit? However with all the snakes, frogs, spiders, insects....there must be thousand of deadly ones. Now if each hospital has to stock each one of these antivenims with a short self life, I can see the cost being astronomical. I am sure the rarer and most deadly pets are probably even more sought after by this type of individual, to impress the ladies.
Posted December 18, 2007 11:09 AM
Actually Scott, as the Cobra is not native to BC, if it were to escape, especially in winter, it would just die. These snakes are not native to BC because of the climate. I am sure in summer in the interior it might last awhile, however not being able to find a suitable foodsource. Surrey in December, no chance.
Posted December 18, 2007 11:02 AM
Most contributers are negative in their comments. Let the snake owners pay!!
But they would scream blue bloody murder if they were bitten by an escaped cobra...........an it is reputed that many Indians from India revere cobras and keep them in their homes as sacred pets.
Better by far our poison control centres enter into an agreement
with the Sanders Clinic in Boca Raton that uses cobra venom to treat ALS(Lou Gerig's disease) or with one of the large industrial type anti venom farms in Bankok. With air traffic these days anti venin would be available in about 24 hours(although for a major cobra bite even 30 minutes delay can be too long)
Posted December 18, 2007 11:00 AM
It sounds like antivenin is available (or at least obtainable) if needed. It also sounds like the "victim" in this case does not understand how antivenins work - he was expecting some magical cure that would erase the effects of his snake bite, when the objective of an antivenin is only to prevent death.
I believe that people should have the freedom to keep dangerous pets, but I also think that they should bear the responsibility and consequences of that ownership as well. That means ensuring that their pets present no danger to the public, and it also means bearing the cost when things go wrong.
Posted December 18, 2007 10:36 AM
Ridiculous. Its like anything else in your life - you take a risk, you should bear most or all of the consequences. I see no need to be paying for the lack of judgement others exhibit. Our medical system is incurring too many costs that should be bourne out of people's pockets.
Posted December 18, 2007 10:15 AM
Why should the public be forced to pay for an antivenom for exotic snake owners. They know the risk and should be aware that if their "pet" bites them the hospital might not be able to save them.
Posted December 18, 2007 09:19 AM
The issue here is that Docters will not prescribe or administer medicines that are not approved, or come from an unknown, unapproved source.
I can not feel sorry in this incident as there are great risks associated with these types of "Pets"....................
I am thinking there is a "Darwin" award coming for this individual very soon...............
E.H.
Posted December 18, 2007 08:57 AM
Has anyone considered the possibility that these pets might escape? The irresponsibility that most posters seem to be railing against is the very reason there should be some stocks of common pet snake varieties so that the general publish can be protected against such occurrences.
Posted December 18, 2007 02:45 AM
Why are people allowed to keep these sort of exotic and dangerous animals to begin with? If you do want to own one of these animals and something bad happens like in Jason's case, you have to be willing to except the fact that a Canadian hospital will not be able to give you the medicine/antivenin that you will require. It is ludicrous to think that someone would blame a hospital for not having cobra antivenon in Canada. I hope you recover fully Jason and hopefully you and others like you that own such animals will learn a valuable lesson from this experience. Peace.
Posted December 18, 2007 12:52 AM
Race car drivers supply their own roll bars, hockey players supply their own pads, exotic snake owners supply their own (fill in the blanks).
Posted December 17, 2007 10:03 PM
No, I don't believe we should be stocking antivenin for exotic species. The proper place for poisonous animals such as snakes, spiders, frogs and the like, is in a zoo, where the staff are trained to handle them properly.
My sympathies are all for the snake in this case. If what I've read is true, this cobra had had its fangs and venom sacs removed, and had been rendered "harmless". Obviously, Hansen didn't read the fine print somewhere. These animals aren't pets in the true sense of the word. They are about as much a pet as a goldfish is.
They might be pretty, and interesting, and even macho if anyone is interested in portraying that image, but they aren't pets, and they shouldn't be kept as such. People buy them, and when the "pet" outgrows its tank, or the owner gets tired of it, it winds up in an exotic pet shelter, gets released somewhere to die slowly of starvation, or is simply ignored to death.
Posted December 17, 2007 08:20 PM
No. It should be up to owners of exotic pets to take full responsibility. Sadly most of them are as intellectually challenged as the owner of this poor cobra (or the Oregon man who after a few beers put his rattlesnake's head in his mouth earlier this year) Exotic pet owners should have to demonstrate competency and be obliged to secure access to antivenoms in the event their pet bites them or worse an innocent bystander.
Posted December 17, 2007 06:55 PM
There are several references in the scientific journals demonstrating Intra Venous vitamin C (as sodium ascorbate)is a very effective and powerful anti venom - neutralizing snake bites from North Carolina highland moccasin to Australia snakes which are among the most venomous in the world. Black Widow spider bites and the bite of the Pus Caterpillar are equally neutralized by I.V. vitamin C.
Unfortunately, our health officials are terribly research challenged when it comes to being aware of this or when informed of the facts, dismiss them out of hand. I might add that the media are just as bad in this regard.
(Tri-State Medical Journal, July 1954a & December 1957; Journal of Applied Nutrition, 1971)
Australian snake bite (Oz snakes are among the most venomous), (Cilento, P, Kalokerinos, A, Detmann I, Detmann G) The Australian Nurses Journal 9(6):19, 1980)
Mr. Jason Hansen need not risk loosing his finger and he need not to have suffered the excrutiating pain while "health officials" dithered as to whether or not make the anti venom available. Vitamin C is available at Kripps Pharmacy for under $45 a kilogram and the protocol for administration is in the afore mentioned refrences.
Croft Woodruff PhD MH
Omira Health Centers Inc
Posted December 17, 2007 06:23 PM
Exotic pets such as cobras do not belong here, in fact it's just plain cruel. So why should we have to pay to protect these folks from themselves with their "really cool" ideas for pets? It is sad to think of this man losing his finger, but really, I think he has lost something much more serious, (his scruples...) Leave these critters where they belong, or go there yourself (bring your antivenom), if you so long for their company! Just so long as you don't bring them near other more sensible people.
Posted December 17, 2007 06:05 PM
I feel that this issue is more complex than meets the eye. You have to worry about if the animal becomes loose and bites multiple people. It is not a bystander's fault if they get bitten by a poisonous animal. I feel that there should be an additional tax to be divided among the owners of these exotic pets to pay for the anti-venin.
Posted December 17, 2007 05:33 PM
I agree with Brian on the pet registry idea as I think that the person who will most likely end up paying with their life for the lack of anti-venom will be an innocent and not the owner of the "pet". However, that registry would likely have to have a rather significant fee to not only pay for the cost of the anti-venom, but also for the adminstrative costs.
Posted December 17, 2007 04:59 PM
Not only should our hospitals not waste money stocking antivenin for people like Mr. Hansen, the government should make exotic and poisonous pets illegal. They are dangerous and/or unnecessary. If Mr. Hansen and his like-minded “pet” owners feel antivenin is a must then they should be responsible for all expenses associated with purchasing, storing and administering antivenin. I find it ridiculous that the lesson Mr. Hansen takes from this experience is that hospitals are ill equipped to suit his needs rather than he is ill equipped to make rational decisions regarding the types of pets one should keep. The tax payers cannot possibly be expected to foot the bill for those dangling from the lowest intellectual rung on the ladder.
Posted December 17, 2007 04:18 PM
!It would be a wonderful situation if everything in the world was free, where we could all just casually own venomous pets and take no individual responsibility for their (our?) actions.
Sure, this selfish man's accident has brought attention to the issue of medical supplies, and what should and should not be stocked at hospitals. But since it would seem we have an abundance of issues already with our health care system, it would be incredibly inefficient and irresponsible of our policy makers to stock the hospitals shelves with every known cure in the world.
Perhaps Mr.Hansen would be so kind as to provide his pet Eve to researchers - to allow them to collect the venom to replace what he used up! That would seem fair to me.
Posted December 17, 2007 03:31 PM
I agree that keeping a supply of antivenins for animals not even native to BC is a non-starter, especially if they have a limited shelf life. However, when in this case a supply was provided that the victim himself vouched for, it should have been administered, or at the very least, give the guy the bottle and a needle and tell him where to but it if the staff were so worried about liabilities arising from the source of it. My guess, however, is that the guy who had been bitten by a cobra had more pressing concerns on his mind than whether or not he'd sue the staff based on what he knew he needed in this event.
Posted December 17, 2007 03:23 PM
Since when did the words "pet" and "cobra" go in the same sentence?
If you choose to be foolhardy enough to keep a venimous snake then it is up to you to provide for your own safety. With this being said, I don't think foresight is high on the list of an individual's attributes who chooses to keep a cobra as a "pet"...
Posted December 17, 2007 02:51 PM
If you have a dangerous sport, you pay premiums. This man has a dangerous pet, although why it is called a pet is beyond me. You cannot cuddle it. You cannot pet it. You cannot do anything but feed it, clean up after it and watch it. To keep a wild animal locked up in a small area is cruel. Be that as it may, if you choose to do so, you should pay the price. I do not think my tax dollars should subsidize stupidity.
Posted December 17, 2007 02:33 PM
As unfortunate as it is for Jason Hansen to go through such an ordeal, I personally think it's perhaps a good lesson in what happens when you take on the responsibility of looking after a dangerous pet. I just just cannot believe that Jason had the gull to place the blame on the doctors and medical system! I think it would a big waste of our taxpayers money to have our hospitals carry anti-venom for such a Cobra - why should the rest of us pay so he can have a pet cobra?! lol. Also, if we carry anti-venom for a Cobra, what about all other dangerous species of snakes, does it mean we have to carry anti-venom all of them too? And then what about exotic spiders?! It's just silly to even consider it.
Posted December 17, 2007 02:22 PM
If you own a poisonous reptile, you should be the one responsible for providing your own antivenin. The reason the two zoos have the kits is because they own these animals. Why should it be any different for Mr. Hansen?
Posted December 17, 2007 02:22 PM
No way!! We cannot possibly carry antivenim for non-native animals. There must be hundreds of spiders, toads, lizards and other exotic pets out there as well as snakes. Perhaps an antivenim kit must be a requirement for owing these animals.
Posted December 17, 2007 02:12 PM
I was going to post what ck did, owners of these pets should be required to buy the antivenin or a required registery of these pets and with it a fee which can be used to buy the antivenin for stock. If 10 people have the same snake, we only need a couple antivenin kit for it so perhaps a registery is the better idea. Register the pet, collect a fee to pay for antivenin so we have it in stock. I personally am more worried about the person who is bite by one of these snakes that got lose, its not there fault.
Posted December 17, 2007 02:00 PM
Truly, if you are stupid enough to put yourself and everyone around you in the path of an animal for which there is no antivenin available, you are too stupid to leave the your house without supervision.
Exotics,especially venemous ones shouldn't be available for domestic sale, period.
I agree with Neil Williams; antivenin for indigenous venoms.
Buying a cobra as a "pet" is...well, I covered that ground already.
Posted December 17, 2007 01:28 PM
No, definitely not. In fact these so-called exotic pets have "no place" in this country. This guy needs to get a reality check as our health care system is already strained to the limits with ordinary day-to-day issues.
Posted December 17, 2007 12:57 PM
No way!!!If you go sailing in harm's way,be willing to pay the price like I am every time I go on a mountain or wilderness trip.
Posted December 17, 2007 12:51 PM
No way! Save the tax money I pay for healthcare for important stuff. I watch this "victim" being interviewed, he seems about as bright as a 10 watt bulb. I am not sure if these types of snakes are legal to own? Seems if they are, a course or some sort of registration should be done. We can't really have a bunch of goofs owning dangerous snakes, because they think is cool. "Hey look dudes I got a Cobra, wicked!!"
Posted December 17, 2007 12:46 PM
Absolutely not, except in regions with a poisonous snake population. Why should our medical system pay to have antivenin on hand, which has a very short shelf life, just in case someone who chooses to keep an exotic pet gets bit by it. Sorry, but if the risk is too high, don't bother buying a cobra!
Posted December 17, 2007 12:39 PM
If you're going to put yourself in danger by purchasing a "pet" like this that could easily kill you, then perhaps you should be required to purchase your own antivenin kit at the same time as you purchase the animal. It's a bit like car insurance. You never want to use it, but you're stupid not to have it.
Posted December 17, 2007 12:34 PM
Antivenim for snakes that are native to bc sounds like a good idea. However there has to be hundred of snakes that are not native to BC. We can't expect each hospital to be ready for each possibility. It seems that people who decide to own these kinds of pets, should perhaps be responsible in getting a supply of it. Even more so, if for some reason they decide to handle these dangerous pets. I am not sure why this man decided to handle this snake, perhaps too much crocidile hunter on tv, or maybe he was just very macho. Either way lesson learned the hard way.
Posted December 17, 2007 12:28 PM
No, definately not. We should not pay more (for our expensive health care) to protect these foolish people. Exotic pets are a selfish luxury. He is lucky that he didn't get killed by a bite to the neck or something.
Posted December 17, 2007 12:23 PM