Reporter Performs Surgery

[Geoff_M]

This is a day or so old, but I didn't see it mentioned here and I thought it was worthy of a post.

A Journalist and a Hero
Sanjay Gupta, the neurosurgeon who serves as CNN's medical correspondent, "assisted in an emergency operation on a critically injured 2-year-old Iraqi child," the Boston Globe reports:

"Gupta was asked to don scrubs and join a surgical team that tried to save the life of a patient who had been hit in the head with shrapnel. That boy, who has not been identified, eventually died. Gupta was the only neurosurgeon on site.

Not all journalists think Gupta did the right thing. The Globe's piece begins by observing that "the notion that embedded reporters in Iraq are only supposed to observe the news was put to the test" by Gupta's action. The paper quotes one Bob Steele, "director of the ethics program at the Poynter Institute for Media Studies," whom the Globe characterizes as "uncomfortable with Gupta's situation."

Steele says: "I think it's problematic if this is a role that he's going to be playing on any kind of frequent basis. I don't think he should be reporting on it if he's also a participant. He can't bring appropriate journalistic independence and detachment to a story."

But surely it is also a violation of professional ethics for a physician to stand by and watch when his expertise could save a patient. All of which goes to prove that journalism isn't brain surgery.

http://www.opinionjournal.com/best/?id=110003299

The boy in question was one of those shot in the tragic checkpoint shooting earlier this week when a car loaded with civilians didn't stop.

 

[SuiteDisney]

It's a lot more important to use your talents and skills to save a life than to stand around and watch someone die when you might have made a difference. I'm proud of Dr. Gupta, he has his priorities straight!

 

[Geoff_M]

I agree... and I LOVED that last sentence in the story!

 

[poohandwendy]

Imagine the story if he had refused to help the boy? I applaud his efforts, he did the right thing. It's a shame that even a good deed can be ripped apart and made into a bad thing.

 

[Mermaid02]

I feel horribly that the child died, but the good Doctor knows he did all he could. IMO he has proven he is a physician FIRST and a journalist SECOND... as it should be.

On a lighter note, when I saw the headline, my first thought was- "Oh, Peter Arnett must have removed his head from his "

 

[jenjie]

I had read Dr Gupta's story (all positive) elsewhere, and almost skipped reading this thread. I cannot believe that he would be expected to sit back and observe! I'm sorry but there is a time when it is more important to look past the "ethics of journalism" to the ethics of life. Dr. Gupta did the right thing as a doctor, and also as a person knowing he had the skill to possibly save the life of a fellow person.

I'm sure those complaining about Dr Gupta's participation would be equally horrified to learn of the (non-embedded) reporter who had to be rescued by the military, and because of this was able to alert them of an ambush. I'm sure they would much rather have the military rescue him, have him say nothing about the ambush, and sit back rubbing his hands together in anticipation of a great story that would come out of the ambush.

Dr Gupta is to be commended.

 

[TinkHappy]

As a doctor, aren't you obligated to try and save a life, not stand there and watch a 2 year old die without trying to help? I am sure that if he went home, that situation would haunt him forever if he didn't try and help.

 

[ennazus]

Apparently some journalists don't understand the MEDICAL code of ethics!

WTG Sanjay Gupta!! I applaud your ethics!!!

 

[minniecarousel]

Gee, darn, so maybe Dr. Gupta won't be the most "objective reporter" in Iraq! So what! The place is over-run with reporters. I saw his reports on CNN on the day he performed the surgery. He said that the Devil Docs warned him from the beginning, that as a neurosurgeon, they may ask him to do this. He knows that they may ask him to do this again - he shouldn't be there if he's isn't willing to help, if needed.