# Why is a colonoscopy being done at Camp David? **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [July 21, 2007, 2:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-is-a-colonoscopy-being-done-at-camp-david/412661 "2007-07-21T14:08:08Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![Jackmannii](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jackmannii/32/311_2.png) [@Jackmannii](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jackmannii)\ **Post date:** [July 22, 2007, 5:05am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-is-a-colonoscopy-being-done-at-camp-david/412661/21 "2007-07-22T05:05:12Z")
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. ---
**Author:** ![Revenant\_Threshold](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/f1d935/32.png) [@Revenant\_Threshold](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Revenant_Threshold)\ **Post date:** [July 22, 2007, 5:10am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-is-a-colonoscopy-being-done-at-camp-david/412661/22 "2007-07-22T05:10:55Z")
A colonoscopy van? I hope it doesn’t have music. Or there’s gonna be a lot of unhappy, sore children. ---
**Author:** ![Tuckerfan](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/eada6e/32.png) [@Tuckerfan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Tuckerfan)\ **Post date:** [July 22, 2007, 6:52am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-is-a-colonoscopy-being-done-at-camp-david/412661/23 "2007-07-22T06:52:21Z")
[QUOTE=carnivorousplant] I dunno, they are sneaky bastards. 🙂 [/QUOTE] Not _that_ sneaky. Seems like the only time they can keep a secret is when the press is involved. ---
**Author:** ![Punoqllads](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/d2c977/32.png) [@Punoqllads](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Punoqllads)\ **Post date:** [July 22, 2007, 6:58am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-is-a-colonoscopy-being-done-at-camp-david/412661/24 "2007-07-22T06:58:32Z")
[QUOTE=Duckster] Guard and Reserve wounded literally thrown to the wolves [/QUOTE] I do not think this means what you think this means. ---
**Author:** ![don\_t\_ask](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/e68b1a/32.png) [@don\_t\_ask](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/don_t_ask)\ **Post date:** [July 22, 2007, 8:34am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-is-a-colonoscopy-being-done-at-camp-david/412661/25 "2007-07-22T08:34:13Z")
Because that’s where the asshole is. ---
**Author:** ![Rucksinator](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/898d66/32.png) [@Rucksinator](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Rucksinator)\ **Post date:** [July 22, 2007, 11:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-is-a-colonoscopy-being-done-at-camp-david/412661/26 "2007-07-22T23:27:28Z")
[QUOTE=Revenant Threshold] A colonoscopy van? … [/QUOTE] Don’t fall for that. I did once. Turns out the ‘doctor’ was just a pervert. ---
**Author:** ![A.R.Cane](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/ee7513/32.png) [@A.R.Cane](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/A.R.Cane)\ **Post date:** [July 22, 2007, 11:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-is-a-colonoscopy-being-done-at-camp-david/412661/27 "2007-07-22T23:42:54Z")
[QUOTE=Duckster] \ It also makes Guard and Reserved wounded ineligible for extended VA care. \ [/QUOTE] 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. ---
**Author:** ![Fear\_Itself](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/fear_itself/32/19637_2.png) [@Fear\_Itself](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Fear_Itself)\ **Post date:** [July 23, 2007, 12:55am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-is-a-colonoscopy-being-done-at-camp-david/412661/28 "2007-07-23T00:55:01Z")
[QUOTE=A.R. Cane] AFAIK the only thing that can absolutely disqualify a vet from VA eligibility is a dishonorable discharge. [/QUOTE] [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. ---
**Author:** ![Billdo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/billdo/32/315_2.png) [@Billdo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Billdo)\ **Post date:** [July 23, 2007, 12:57am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-is-a-colonoscopy-being-done-at-camp-david/412661/29 "2007-07-23T00:57:36Z")
[QUOTE=Revenant Threshold] A colonoscopy van? I hope it doesn’t have music. Or there’s gonna be a lot of unhappy, sore children. [/QUOTE] If the van is a-rockin’, don’t come a-knockin’. ---
**Author:** ![Potato\_Pancakes](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/65b543/32.png) [@Potato\_Pancakes](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Potato_Pancakes)\ **Post date:** [July 23, 2007, 3:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-is-a-colonoscopy-being-done-at-camp-david/412661/30 "2007-07-23T15:10:02Z")
[QUOTE=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. [/QUOTE] 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? ---
**Author:** ![Cartooniverse](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/cartooniverse/32/3084_2.png) [@Cartooniverse](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cartooniverse)\ **Post date:** [July 23, 2007, 3:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-is-a-colonoscopy-being-done-at-camp-david/412661/31 "2007-07-23T15:21:54Z")
[QUOTE=Tuckerfan] This particular hospital is also FEMAs operation center for the area, which leads me to believe that the two are connected. [/QUOTE] I’m not sure that in of itself is a ringing endorsement… Cartooniverse ---
**Author:** ![Tuckerfan](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/eada6e/32.png) [@Tuckerfan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Tuckerfan)\ **Post date:** [July 23, 2007, 3:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-is-a-colonoscopy-being-done-at-camp-david/412661/32 "2007-07-23T15:35:47Z")
[QUOTE=Cartooniverse] I’m not sure that in of itself is a ringing endorsement… Cartooniverse [/QUOTE] 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). ---
**Author:** ![A.R.Cane](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/ee7513/32.png) [@A.R.Cane](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/A.R.Cane)\ **Post date:** [July 23, 2007, 3:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-is-a-colonoscopy-being-done-at-camp-david/412661/33 "2007-07-23T15:52:55Z")
[QUOTE=Fear Itself] [Not true](http://www.thenation.com/doc/20070409/kors):A Chapter 5-13 is a general discharge, not a dishonorable discharge. [/QUOTE] 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. ---
**Author:** ![MrSquishy](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/b9e5f3/32.png) [@MrSquishy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MrSquishy)\ **Post date:** [July 23, 2007, 6:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-is-a-colonoscopy-being-done-at-camp-david/412661/34 "2007-07-23T18:35:04Z")
[QUOTE=Punoqllads] I do not think this means what you think this means. [/QUOTE] I agree. Especially since it was preceded by this: > [@](#): > > …literally “get them off the books.” “Literally” **and** quotation marks? WTF? Sorry, pet peeve. ---
**Author:** ![Fear\_Itself](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/fear_itself/32/19637_2.png) [@Fear\_Itself](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Fear_Itself)\ **Post date:** [July 23, 2007, 6:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-is-a-colonoscopy-being-done-at-camp-david/412661/35 "2007-07-23T18:36:38Z")
[QUOTE=A.R. Cane] I suggest you visit the VA web site and read the eligibility requirements. [/QUOTE] If you disagree with my cite, I suggest you visit the VA web and post the relevant information in this thread. ---
**Author:** ![Bookkeeper](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bookkeeper/32/281_2.png) [@Bookkeeper](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bookkeeper)\ **Post date:** [July 23, 2007, 7:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-is-a-colonoscopy-being-done-at-camp-david/412661/36 "2007-07-23T19:18:08Z")
[QUOTE=Tuckerfan] 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. [/QUOTE] Or get pics of el Presidente with a tube up his butt. ---
**Author:** ![A.R.Cane](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/ee7513/32.png) [@A.R.Cane](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/A.R.Cane)\ **Post date:** [July 23, 2007, 7:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-is-a-colonoscopy-being-done-at-camp-david/412661/37 "2007-07-23T19:51:45Z")
[QUOTE=Fear Itself] If you disagree with my cite, I suggest you visit the VA web and post the relevant information in this thread. [/QUOTE] 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.” > **[VA health care | Veterans Affairs](https://www.va.gov/health-care/)** > > With VA health care, you’re covered for regular checkups with your primary care provider and appointments with specialists (like cardiologists, gynecologists, and mental health providers). You can access services like home health and geriatric... ---
**Author:** ![SandyHook](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/dec6dc/32.png) [@SandyHook](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SandyHook)\ **Post date:** [July 23, 2007, 9:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-is-a-colonoscopy-being-done-at-camp-david/412661/38 "2007-07-23T21:17:59Z")
[QUOTE=don’t ask] Because that’s where the asshole is. [/QUOTE] CRAP!!! That was my witty remark to make, damn you. ---
**Author:** ![Sal\_Ammoniac](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/8dc957/32.png) [@Sal\_Ammoniac](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sal_Ammoniac)\ **Post date:** [July 23, 2007, 9:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-is-a-colonoscopy-being-done-at-camp-david/412661/39 "2007-07-23T21:50:22Z")
Oh, well, at least you got in “crap,” which I believe no one else did. ---
**Author:** ![Fear\_Itself](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/fear_itself/32/19637_2.png) [@Fear\_Itself](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Fear_Itself)\ **Post date:** [July 24, 2007, 12:41am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-is-a-colonoscopy-being-done-at-camp-david/412661/40 "2007-07-24T00:41:11Z")
[QUOTE=A.R. Cane] 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. [/QUOTE] 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. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-is-a-colonoscopy-being-done-at-camp-david/412661.md?page=1) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-is-a-colonoscopy-being-done-at-camp-david/412661.md?page=3)