self-harmers should not receive medical attention

i respect some of my opponents valid arguments. "Millions of people in the world are suffering; millions who are not able to get a decent medical care; millions who are suffering as their bodies are tearing themselves apart because of horrible conditions and horrible medical care."-this is not the fault of anybody personally in any country, it just is. Nobody should be made to feel guilty for being treated like a human, okay acknowledge this fact and appriciate other peoples pain, but that is no reason to turn guilt upon people who are lucky enough to have these resources. It is similar to saying that you dont deserve the clothes on your back or the food on your plate, because people else-where dont have it too. self injury http://en.wikipedia.org... i quote from the above link " Self-harm is listed in the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM-IV-TR) as a symptom of borderline personality disorder and depressive disorders. Self-harm is often associated with a history of trauma and abuse including emotional abuse, sexual abuse, drug dependence, eating disorders, or mental traits such as low self-esteem or perfectionism. However, a statistical analysis is difficult as many self-harmers conceal their injuries." showing that self-harm is indeed related to serious mental-illnesses, which although not physically, still needs attention in a hospital or specialised environment. The fact that it is linked to past trauma such as abuse shows that self-harmers dont "get a say in their life" as the pro failed to recognise. My opponent is quoted to say "They have devalued their own life by making such a selfish move as to cut or hurt themselves." what this highlights is the ignorance out in the world to issues such as self-injury, people who feel the need to cut dont do it because they love it, or to be a selfish person but because "self-harm often becomes a response to profound and overwhelming emotional pain that cannot be resolved in a more functional way", in keeping all the pain inside of them, they are protecting people around them by not wishing to share, burden or blame other people in anyway. self-harm is often mistaken for attention-seeking, which i refuse to agree with. In some cultures it is considered fashionable,however i do not consider that behaviour as self-harm, self harm is described as a coping mechanism for emotional turmoil, not fashion statements. therefore people who engage in true self-injury, tend to hide their cuts or evidence of their actions, in shame fear and humiliation because society treats them different. I do not feel the need to pity people who self-harm i feel the need for them to be respected and valued as equal medically to that "kid who got run over by the drunk driver. "- he may need more care physically but does not "deserve" more respect just because of the situation. I also refuse to accept any correlation between smoking and self-injury, although smoking causes illness and is for emotional relief, smokers are well catered for in society and medical care, they even get support to stop. And to reitterate the argument was for self-harmers to not recieve any medical attention, not get it first. In hospital, the most serious cases are treated first, the situation or the person does not matter, all that is important is the physical and mental health of the patient. it is for qualified doctors to decide the order of treatment. i quote my opponent: "In terms of money; do you know how much money we must waste to take care of people who have harmed themselves? Imagine that "x" amount that we could be devoting to help people in OUR OWN COUNTRY WHO HAVE PROBLEMS GOING TO A HOSPITAL. Yet my opponent beliefs that these people should wait in line behind the people who commit self-injury" I have already stated my belief in the order of treatment. Imagine the money spent on people with obesity and smokers.Imagine the money spent on war, with those countries that cant afford hospital care, for the victims of the war we are fighting. imagine the wasted food. imagine all those clothes you own but never wear. heating, and clean water in your houses. the money spared for a few stitches does not compare, besides the self-harmer pays the price socially- they are misundestood and more money needs to be spent on the education of and attention to mental health. thankyou i hope you respect my arguments