Posted on 02/14/2006 9:25:07 AM PST by Mr. Brightside
First Doctor to Treat Cheney Victim Tells Texas Paper He Wanted to Send Him Home
By Joe Strupp
Published: February 14, 2006 12:05 PM ET
NEW YORK While news reports from The New York Times to the Austin American-Statesman have been describing the injuries to Harry Whittington, the victim of Vice President Dick Cheney's accidental shooting, as more serious than first believed, as he remains hospitalized today, the tiny Alice [Texas] Echo-News Journal will offer a different version later today, E&P has learned.
According to the afternoon daily, located about 60 miles from the shooting site, the first doctor to treat Whittington immediately after the Saturday shooting contended that his wounds were superficial and not in need of further hospitalization.
"If it were just a normal citizen, he would have sent him home with antibiotics," said Ofelia Hunter, Echo-News Journal editor, who talked to the doctor. "He felt that it was more royal treatment that he was getting."
Hunter's comments referred to Dr. Raj Subnani, who treated Whittington at the Christus Spohn Hospital in Kingsville where he was first taken before being transferred to the Christus Spohn Hospital Memorial in Corpus Christi, where he remains.
Hunter, who plans to run a story about Subnani this afternoon, said she interviewed the doctor Monday. The editor, who is one of three newsroom staffers at the paper, indicated that the doctor was not in favor of transferring Whittington because he did not believe he required further hospitalization.
"He felt he was transferred because of his prominence, and that he was already stable," Hunter said. "It was more because of who he was." That is in marked contrast to reports in most major newspapers that Whittington required intensive care treatment, was hit with more than 100 pellets, and that some of the wounds were so severe the pellets could not be removed.
Hunter also reports that Subnani was upset that the Corpus Christi Hospital was being credited with treating Whittington. "More than anything because Corpus Christi staff is getting all of the attention and his staff did all of the work," Hunter said of Subnani. "Media outlets are giving them the credit."
The Echo-News Journal, which publishes every day except Saturday, did not get the early scoop that its neighbor, the Corpus Christi Caller-Times, did. While the Caller-Times has been credited nationwide with breaking the shooting story online Sunday, Hunter said her first report on the shooting was an AP story in the Monday paper.
While she praised the Caller-Times for its work, Hunter also criticized officials for not revealing the news earlier to local journalists. "We should be able to get that information," she said. Hunter also said the Armstrong Ranch, where the shooting occurred, is known as a place where political heavyweights often visit, noting that Cheney comes down at least once a year. But she said there had been no similar incidents therr in the recent past.
I wouldn't go that far.... At least we know Harry Whittington was indeed, shot.
The circumstances you describe seem reasonable. I would be surprised if any shot penetrated clothing at that distance. I've seen similar "shootings" where the only damage was to exposed skin.
If I were the President I would ban everyone of those assholes (pardon my french) from covering the Whitehouse and I would only give a short press conference once a month by invitation only. Then sit back and laugh when they whined about it.
Seems to me that shot from a 28 guage at 100 feet could hardly kill a quayle, let alone an adult man.
I heard that Chaney's approval rating shot up to 92% when people found out it was a lawyer he hit...
They were offended? Well, just think how offended WE are that they actually DO it. And good for you for writing them.
I think if more of us took them to task, they'd HAVE to change their ways.
I'm waiting for the headline where they label the VP a "poacher" for not paying his $7 quail stamp TAX.
Off Topic
President is on FNC introducing the Texas Long Horns ... he's a hoot
See "Breaking News".Maybe this first doctor ought to tear up his license.
Off topic. That's what I'm watching. He's a hoot, alright! What fun!
IMHO, I think the White House's announcement on this accident should have been, "Vice Pres. Cheney shot a fellow-hunter in an incident that occurred this weekend. The victim is in good condition, but let this be a warning to the rest of you...."
The media would have only been happy had Cheney shot himself.
I think it's a Rovian diversion....While the press is obsessed with this Cheney shooting incident, no one has noticed that Bush has invaded Iran. ;-)
LOL -- I just caught that! Thanks, Mo1.
Honest to goodness, I think we could do anything we wanted today and no one in the press would even notice.
Oh God, check the news now.
Bird shot --- slight heart attack!
Well they were in Texas not PA so the clothes were probably lighter than average, but yes I'm sure some of the energy would have been absorbed by his shirt at least.
Even after they did hear about it, they'd still botch the story.
The media is just sore they got called on the carpet for jumping the gun on the Sago Mine disaster and botched that whole story, now they're ticked they weren't notified of this soon enough.
The media is just too stupid to figure out their consumers of the news don't trust them.
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