Why is a colonoscopy being done at Camp David?

[Fear Itself]

Is there a medical facility at Camp David, or did they just bring a colonoscopy van? There are risks associated with colonoscopy, including bowel perforation, heavy bleeding following polyp removal, adverse reaction to anaesthesia, and bowel infection. While these reactions are relatively rare, when the life of the President is at stake, wouldn't it be prudent to perform the procedure in a hospital, which is much better prepared to deal with complications than an ad hoc clinic at Camp David?

Is there any substance to the speculation that the colonoscopy is a cover story for some other event taking place at Camp David?

[Tuckerfan]

IIRC, Presidential medical exams are usually done at Walter Reed, which has been in the news of late for some rather unsavory reasons.

[Exapno Mapcase]

CNN reported that five polyps that were not a concern were removed during the colonoscopy. It seems unlikely that would be just a cover story for something else, since a clean bill of health would be a better story with no follow-up.

[Fear Itself]

It seems unlikely that would be just a cover story for something else, since a clean bill of health would be a better story with no follow-up.Perhaps; it just seemed odd to do a colonoscopy at Camp David. I am willing to have my ignorance fought though.

[silenus]

Security more than likely. Camp David is already a secure facility, and a colonoscopy doesn't really need a full hospital to perform. The infirmary on-site is good enough. Less travel hassles, no building to secure, no other patients to move, etc.

[Tuckerfan]

And now that I think about it, there probably is a clinic at Camp David for treating medical issues. I know that the Secret Service routinely certifies hospitals in different parts of the country to be able to handle the President if he has a medical emergency at some point. No doubt having a clinic at Camp David would save vital time if something were to go wrong with the President. Remember, the faster someone gets treatment, the more likely they are to survive.

[Fear Itself]

Security more than likely. Camp David is already a secure facility, and a colonoscopy doesn't really need a full hospital to perform. The infirmary on-site is good enough.I wasn't able to find any references to the medical facilities located at Camp David. I was hoping someone could enlighten me. Less travel hassles, no building to secure, no other patients to move, etc.Presidents have frequently had minor procedures and checkups done at Walter Reed Medical Center or Bethesda Naval Hospital, so that can't be that big of a problem, or else they would do them at Camp David as well.

[silenus]

But do these medical exams include being put under to the point of making the Veep Acting Chimp? I'd venture to say that given the current state of paranoia at 1600, Camp David probably would seems the more comfortable option.

[Tuckerfan]

I wasn't able to find any references to the medical facilities located at Camp David. I was hoping someone could enlighten me.I imagine you won't find detailed (if any) information on such things "for reasons of National Security." A buddy of mine who handles video gear for a local hospital had to work with the SS to find a way to physically disable the automated video systems used in the ERs so that if the President was ever brought there, there'd be no chance of anyone being able to monitor what was going on and gain classified information.

[Fear Itself]

But do these medical exams include being put under to the point of making the Veep Acting Chimp? I'd venture to say that given the current state of paranoia at 1600, Camp David probably would seems the more comfortable option.I would have expected the exact opposite; anything requiring general anaesthesia is more serious than a checkup, thus more likely to take place in a hospital, not less. I am not saying a colonoscopy can't be performed outside of a hospital, only that potential complications such as bowel perforation would require hospital intervention, and in the case of the US President, extra precautions would be warranted.

[NinjaChick]

And now that I think about it, there probably is a clinic at Camp David for treating medical issues. I know that the Secret Service routinely certifies hospitals in different parts of the country to be able to handle the President if he has a medical emergency at some point. No doubt having a clinic at Camp David would save vital time if something were to go wrong with the President. Remember, the faster someone gets treatment, the more likely they are to survive.
Sorta-Hijack: How does the Secret Service certify the hospitals? Do you mean they review the medical procedures done, history/experience of the doctors, etc? Or is it purely a "if the President comes in you'd have to move everyone else out of the ER" type thing?

[Tuckerfan]

Sorta-Hijack: How does the Secret Service certify the hospitals? Do you mean they review the medical procedures done, history/experience of the doctors, etc? Or is it purely a "if the President comes in you'd have to move everyone else out of the ER" type thing?
My understanding is that they have to be able to handle any kind of medical emergency that a President it likely to have and they have to have doctors of a certain skill level. This particular hospital is also FEMAs operation center for the area, which leads me to believe that the two are connected.

[silenus]

If anybody can sit through the press briefings, they may answer this question for us. Some reporter has to be thinking the same thing. Maybe Snow will tell us sometime today.

[Sublight]

It's much more dramatic to fit the doctor with an explosive collar wired to the President's heart monitor ("If he dies, you die.") after he's been whisked away to your secluded facility, than trying to do it standing in the middle of a crowded public emergency room.

[eleanorigby]

Most colonoscopies are not done under general anesthesia. The pt is sedated with meds via his or her IV. The infirmary (depending on how it's stocked and who is staffing it) should be fine. Lots of scopes are done in outpt facilities, not at hospitals. The staff are trained in BLS and ACLS, with a crash cart and Plan B. Given that this is the WH were talking about-they no doubt had an entire medical team on stand by somewhere close. (that's what I would want, if I were President).

[KarlGauss]

I would have expected the exact opposite; anything requiring general anaesthesia is more serious than a checkup, thus more likely to take place in a hospital, not less. I am not saying a colonoscopy can't be performed outside of a hospital, only that potential complications such as bowel perforation would require hospital intervention, and in the case of the US President, extra precautions would be warranted.
Colonoscopies are minor procedures. Sure there's a chance of serious complications but their likelihood is so remote that it doesn't offset the benefit of doing it in the ultra-safe and ultra-controlled environment of Camp David. Moreover, the delay in getting the president to an acute care facility if the need arose, would be a matter of minutes when there's a helicopter at his beck and call. And, it's actually hard to imagine any complication that might arise as a result of colonoscopy where tertiary care is essential in the first 20 minutes or so.

As an aside, a White House press release today said that propofol (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Propofol) was used as the anesthetic agent. It is extremely safe, doesn't really "put you to sleep" and wears off in a few minutes. In other words, not a big deal at all.

[Rysdad]

As an aside, a White House press release today said that propofol (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Propofol) was used as the anesthetic agent. It is extremely safe, doesn't really "put you to sleep" and wears off in a few minutes. In other words, not a big deal at all.

<side note>

Propofol is white, and, at least in my hospital, is nicknamed "Milk of Amnesia."

</sn>

[Kozmik]

It's part of the peace process.

[carnivorousplant]

It seems unlikely that would be just a cover story for something else,
I dunno, they are sneaky bastards. :)

[Duckster]

IIRC, Presidential medical exams are usually done at Walter Reed, which has been in the news of late for some rather unsavory reasons.
<hijack=slight>
There have been no problems with medical care at Walter Reed. Walter Reed recently received the highest medical recertification for hospital care.

The problems reported in the news dealt with outpatient housing facilities. In addition, the real problem is the military is releasing wounded personnel from medical care to literally "get them off the books." Woe be you if you are not active duty personnel; Guard and Reserve wounded literally thrown to the wolves as soon as possible so their statistics don't bring down the overall scores. It also makes Guard and Reserved wounded ineligible for extended VA care.
</hijack>

[Jackmannii]

To emphasize what's already been stated: colonoscopies are not done under general anesthesia (rather, conscious sedation, in which you typically remember little if any of the procedure). Complication rates are low, and what might conceivably happen (i.e. a bowel perforation) is not going to require a crack surgery team hovering in the next room.

I had my recent colonoscopy done in an outpatient facility (Fred's Surgery Center and Barbecue Hut) and everything went just fine.

The way some pundits and curiosity-seekers obsess over any type of medical care for the Prez and his family (not referring to you, Fear Itself), I'm surprised there hasn't already been a FOIA request filed, demanding that video of the President's bowel prep be posted on YouTube.

[Revenant Threshold]

A colonoscopy van?

I hope it doesn't have music. Or there's gonna be a lot of unhappy, sore children.

[Tuckerfan]

I dunno, they are sneaky bastards. :)
Not that sneaky. Seems like the only time they can keep a secret is when the press is involved.

[Punoqllads]

Guard and Reserve wounded literally thrown to the wolves
I do not think this means what you think this means.

[don't ask]

Because that's where the asshole is.

[Rucksinator]

A colonoscopy van?
....

Don't fall for that. I did once. Turns out the 'doctor' was just a pervert.

[A.R. Cane]

<hijack=slight>
It also makes Guard and Reserved wounded ineligible for extended VA care.
</hijack>

You're going to have to provide a cite for this.
AFAIK the only thing that can absolutely disqualify a vet from VA eligibility is a dishonorable discharge. What many of these vets are being deprived of is a disability rating higher than 30%, which is the cutoff for monetary and some other benefits.

[Fear Itself]

AFAIK the only thing that can absolutely disqualify a vet from VA eligibility is a dishonorable discharge. Not true (http://www.thenation.com/doc/20070409/kors):A six-month investigation has uncovered multiple cases in which soldiers wounded in Iraq are suspiciously diagnosed as having a personality disorder, then prevented from collecting benefits. The conditions of their discharge have infuriated many in the military community, including the injured soldiers and their families, veterans' rights groups, even military officials required to process these dismissals.

They say the military is purposely misdiagnosing soldiers like Town and that it's doing so for one reason: to cheat them out of a lifetime of disability and medical benefits, thereby saving billions in expenses.

In the Army's separations manual it's called Regulation 635-200, Chapter 5-13: "Separation Because of Personality Disorder." It's an alluring choice for a cash-strapped military because enacting it is quick and cheap. The Department of Veterans Affairs doesn't have to provide medical care to soldiers dismissed with personality disorder. That's because under Chapter 5-13, personality disorder is a pre-existing condition. The VA is only required to treat wounds sustained during service.

Soldiers discharged under 5-13 can't collect disability pay either. To receive those benefits, a soldier must be evaluated by a medical board, which must confirm that he is wounded and that his wounds stem from combat. The process takes several months, in contrast with a 5-13 discharge, which can be wrapped up in a few days.

If a soldier dismissed under 5-13 hasn't served out his contract, he has to give back a slice of his re-enlistment bonus as well. That amount is often larger than the soldier's final paycheck. As a result, on the day of their discharge, many injured vets learn that they owe the Army several thousand dollars.

...

In the last six years the Army has diagnosed and discharged more than 5,600 soldiers because of personality disorder, according to the Defense Department. And the numbers keep rising: 805 cases in 2001, 980 cases in 2003, 1,086 from January to November 2006. "It's getting worse and worse every day," says the official who handles discharge papers. "At my office the numbers started out normal. Now it's up to three or four soldiers each day. It's like, suddenly everybody has a personality disorder."

The reason is simple, he says. "They're saving a buck. And they're saving the VA money too. It's all about money." A Chapter 5-13 is a general discharge, not a dishonorable discharge.

[Billdo]

A colonoscopy van?

I hope it doesn't have music. Or there's gonna be a lot of unhappy, sore children.

If the van is a-rockin', don't come a-knockin'.

[Potato Pancakes]

CNN reported that five polyps that were not a concern were removed during the colonoscopy. It seems unlikely that would be just a cover story for something else, since a clean bill of health would be a better story with no follow-up.

Did they have to go into such detail about the Presidential Insides? Wouldn't it be sufficient to say the President had the routine exam and was given a clean bill of health?

[Cartooniverse]

This particular hospital is also FEMAs operation center for the area, which leads me to believe that the two are connected.

I'm not sure that in of itself is a ringing endorsement.............................

Cartooniverse

[Tuckerfan]

I'm not sure that in of itself is a ringing endorsement.............................

Cartooniverse
They had this before Mike "Heckuvajob Brownie" Brown was inflicted upon FEMA, and the hospital is consistently ranked one of the top research hospitals in the nation (if not the world).

[A.R. Cane]

Not true (http://www.thenation.com/doc/20070409/kors):A Chapter 5-13 is a general discharge, not a dishonorable discharge.

The info. you quoted contains misinformation. The determination may prevent a vet from being treated for that particular malady, but only a dishonorable discharge can deny them all VA care. I suggest you visit the VA web site and read the eligibility requirements.
I don't disagree that many vets are being given short shrift, but it must be recognized that there is room for abuse of the system when they get into psychological problems. Certainly some are the legitmate result of serving in combat, but there are always going to be those who may believe they are emotionally scarred, even w/o the classic symptoms and there will be some who are simply opportunists. Military docs and evaluation boards are, almost certainly, being too conservative, but it's still a tough call to make.

[MrSquishy]

I do not think this means what you think this means.I agree. Especially since it was preceded by this:
...literally "get them off the books.""Literally" and quotation marks? WTF?

Sorry, pet peeve.

[Fear Itself]

I suggest you visit the VA web site and read the eligibility requirements.If you disagree with my cite, I suggest you visit the VA web and post the relevant information in this thread.

[Bookkeeper]

I imagine you won't find detailed (if any) information on such things "for reasons of National Security." A buddy of mine who handles video gear for a local hospital had to work with the SS to find a way to physically disable the automated video systems used in the ERs so that if the President was ever brought there, there'd be no chance of anyone being able to monitor what was going on and gain classified information.
Or get pics of el Presidente with a tube up his butt.

[A.R. Cane]

If you disagree with my cite, I suggest you visit the VA web and post the relevant information in this thread.

I didn't intend to hijack this thread, simply to correct misinformation. You are citing a news story, which is slanted to emphasis the point of the story. I don't necessarily disagree w/ the intent of that news story, but it does imply somthing that is not factual.
From the VA web site:
"Eligibility for most veterans’ health care benefits is based solely on active military service in the Army, Navy, Air Force, Marines, or Coast Guard (or Merchant Marines during WW II), and discharged under other than dishonorable conditions.
Reservists and National Guard members who were called to active duty by a Federal Executive Order may qualify for VA health care benefits. Returning service members, including Reservists and National Guard members who served on active duty in a theater of combat operations have special eligibility for hospital care, medical services, and nursing home care for two years following discharge from active duty.
Health Care eligibility is not just for those who served in combat.
Other groups may be eligible for some health benefits.
Veteran’s health care is not just for service-connected injuries or medical conditions.
Veteran’s health care facilities are not just for men only. VA offers full-service health care to women veterans."
http://www.va.gov/healtheligibility/

[SandyHook]

Because that's where the asshole is.



CRAP!!!! That was my witty remark to make, damn you.

[Sal Ammoniac]

Oh, well, at least you got in "crap," which I believe no one else did.

[Fear Itself]

You are citing a news story, which is slanted to emphasis the point of the story. I don't necessarily disagree w/ the intent of that news story, but it does imply somthing that is not factual.The charge that VA practice is not consistent with its policy will be determined by a lawsuit filed by Iraq war veterans in federal court today against the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2007/07/23/AR2007072300686.html):The lawsuit also accuses the VA of deliberately cheating some veterans by allegedly working with the Pentagon to misclassify PTSD claims as pre-existing personality disorders to avoid paying benefits. The VA and Pentagon have generally denied such charges.If you would like to debate this issue, this thread has been updated (http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?t=415304) if you have anything to add.

[Cartooniverse]

They had this before Mike "Heckuvajob Brownie" Brown was inflicted upon FEMA, and the hospital is consistently ranked one of the top research hospitals in the nation (if not the world).

Snarky remark withdrawn. :)