This is a very good topic. I haven't had to go to the ER for stitches or anything like that, but I do deal with people who have done this almost every day. I work for an ambulance company here in Las Vegas.
It seems that most of the people are our company complain on the way to psych calls. However, I find myself 'teching' most of these calls because I can really understand where these kind of patients are coming from. I have never heard of anything like not getting lidocaine here in LV, but I 'm sure it has happened. Some of the docs here could care less; to me, that would be a sign to get out of the profession. I have read about orgainizations and stuff that you can contact if you don't recieve proper treatment though.
Nikki