Why are the WH doctors still there?

[Cassandra]

Interesting question from the comments on firedoglake:
http://firedoglake.blogspot.com/2006_02_12_firedoglake_archive.html#113994308286731861

"White House physicians who attended to Whittington at the scene after Cheney accidentally shot him were involved in the treatment, the officials said."

I am a licensed physician and I've spent most of the twenty-one years in academic medical centers, hospitals, and the like. I've worked as a consultant with ICU teams and surgical trauma teams. I have NEVER seen a situation in which any victim of violence was subject to care provided by the assailant's associates.

The traveling White House docs - whatever their skills - aren't the only physicians who have ever encountered gunshot wounds or intra-arterial foreign bodies resulting from gunshot wounds. The traveling White House docs also aren't the only physicians able to manage "heart attacks" whether the arterial blockage is caused by lead or plaque.

I watched interns and residents and cardiology attendings for some years in my duties at UCLA. I never noticed anyone from the White House coming by to tell them how to care for patients.

Even if they had come by, they couldn't have been invovled in patient care. In real life, hospitals are well chooy about who gets to come and play with the patients. To practice in a hospital, docs have to be vetted before starting to see patients.

The idea that well - some people who work for the dude who was the shooter and they'd like to to help out here in the ICU - is that OK? - that idea is nonsense.

So what the hell is up with Corpus-Christi Memorial? I'm not doubting the skills of the White House docs - they apparently saved the patient's life in the field. But why are they in the ICU? Are they paid to travel with and provide care for the Veep, or are they paid to take care of his victims after he's left town.

If the latter, the White House docs will be very busy once the Iraq vets are back. One-third are already estimated to meet criteria for the diagnosis of PTSD."

[Mayberry Machiavelli]

1. It's pretty effed up. Once dude was at a trauma center, WH docs should

have backed off, on general principle.

If I were the victim, even if they were excellent docs, I wouldn't want them involved once I had other care, just on principle. I'd feel pretty uncomfortable having them involved in any decision making.

[Bob3]

2. "trust me I'm a doctor and this pillow is part ot the treatment"

Let me just put it here over his face - I know what I'm doing - dead people cost less when you settle out of court."

[Paulie]

3. They are not going to trust a local doc to keep this man alive

They being the powers that be, not the docs.

[rodeodance]

4. i think WH docs were conferred with only. Why--who knows.

[havocmom]

5. Hmm, didn't know Dick's docs were still on the job

Probably a testament to Mr. Whittington's tenacity that he is still alive with Dick sending in his special medical team and all.

What, are they afraid the guy might be able to talk sometime soon?

[Avalux]

6. I'm scratching my head over it too. But consider this -

The Armstrong family has a lot of power in that area of Texas; it's conceivable the hospital has been "told" to allow WH physicans to be involved. While ethically wrong all the way around, may not be much they can do if they're being strong-armed.

I don't think the WH docs are there to treat him, but to control the information that gets released. If I were the attending physican to Mr. Whittingham and was told I'd have to brief them, whatever - I'd be really really pissed. Might explain why the ER cheif was so rattled during the press conference.

This whole thing is being managed by the WH, and those docs are doing their part. Hippocratic oath be damned.

[BringEmOn]

7. JFK

[Nordmadr]

8. Don't you dare die you litigating son of a bitch. It will ruin us!

We'd rather be sued.

Olafr