Journalist and surgeon in the battle zone
Program Note: Tune in tonight to see Dr. Sanjay Gupta report from a field hospital in Afghanistan. AC360° at 10 p.m. ET.
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Tim Langmaid
CNN Medical Managing Editor
I work with Dr. Sanjay Gupta in CNN’s Medical unit. Sanjay is a practicing neurosurgeon who spends much of his time away from CNN working at a hospital in Atlanta. Since he joined CNN in 2001, Sanjay’s two worlds (brain surgeon and journalist) have collided (so to speak) on a few occasions.
While covering the war in Iraq in 2003, Sanjay was called upon while reporting on the U.S. Navy’s Devil Docs - the military's nickname for a group of physicians who provide battlefield medical care. A 23-year-old Marine hit with a sniper’s bullet was left with massive head trauma. Jesus Vidana was declared dead – twice. But he had a faint pulse when he reached Sanjay, the surgeon. Vidana survived the surgery, and the war.
Sanjay was still in the war zone in Iraq when he was asked about the surgery. His response offers some insight into Sanjay the doctor, the journalist and the human being.
“They don't have a neurosurgeon here,” Sanjay said. “They knew that I performed these sorts of operations so they asked me to actually perform that particular operation- which I felt medically and morally was the right thing to do.”
A couple of years later, Sanjay wrote: “As a neurosurgeon, I was asked to step back from my journalist's role to look at his gunshot wound to the head. Shortly thereafter, I was removing a bullet from his brain. Within an hour, Jesus had been treated, operated on and was recovering just outside the operating room.”
Sanjay is currently on assignment in Afghanistan. He is covering U.S. military doctors in the battle zone and reporting for Anderson Cooper 360°. This week he has been called upon again as a surgeon, this time for an operation that required four surgeons when only three were available. Sanjay is profiling one of the other surgeons tonight on AC360°. You should watch—you’ll find that Sanjay has more in common with this doctor than just medicine.
It is controversial whenever a journalist becomes part of the story he or she is covering. I have been a journalist for more than 20 years and I fully understand that. But I also think there are exceptions—and Sanjay is one of those exceptions. I would argue that if Sanjay did not pick up a scalpel in the field when it is requested (and ABSOLUTELY necessary), it would be even more controversial.
Yes, I think Sanjay is an exception. And I think Sanjay’s few battle field patients (and their families) would agree.
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Filed under: Afghanistan • Dr. Sanjay Gupta • Tim Langmaid |
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Dear Dr. Sanjay
Thank You! admiration for what you do both as a Surgeon and journalist. Some how we in the medical field never hesitate to lend our skills in any situation. To save a life, end suffering and mend a broken body.
Well done you have touched my heart...
I'm so glad that Sanjay was able to step in and help. As a doctor there is no way he could turn down such a request and I don't think that it causes a conflict of interest with his reporting. He is a medical journalist and a doctor which makes him a unique type of reporter. I pray that you all stay safe while in Afghanistan and that all our soldiers come home safe as well. 🙂
P.S. Tell Michael Ware to be more careful. His honest reporting is highly valued. 😉
In this case, he is first a doctor even if the patient is an ennemy and I think that most of us know that.
Bless you doc...as for Anderson... I find him part of the creepy left after all his heinous words and attitude....about American citizens on July 4th....I don't want him near our troops.
dr. sanjay you are a true hero... please be save over there both you and anderson.. i pray for both of you and all of our troops while you are there !!!!! please stay safe...
God Bless our Sons and Daughters. Both my Sons made it home ok from Fallujah with EOD Units, but my best friends daughter is @ Camp Dwyer and Leatherneck with the Bravo Medical Co. 72222. If you could find Lt. JG Phyllis Dykescould you give her a BIG HUG from her MOM and Debbie? Thank you
Sanjay, you are indeed a miracle man, thank you and yes I hope that we do indeed hear more from you while out there as a journalist and fine neuro-surgeon, please stay safe .......
Please stay safe. This is what any doctor should do.
Convey my thanks to everyone who are defending our nation's honor in Afghanistan.
We ran out on them after driving the Russians out; and Osama bin Laden came in with the Taliban and replaced us
Then we returned and drove the Taliban out again; deserting the people of Afghanistan for Iraq.
Now a great many here in the US want to desert them again! No wonder they cannot trust us.
What we need in Afghanistan is 100 Greg Mortenson's, thousands of schools and good works, ngo's all over the place.
Use the money from less Stingers, Probe's and bombs to help the people - and use guys like Mortenson and the Central Pacific Institute to spend the money.
They need the good life, too.....
Convey my thanks to everyone who are defending our nation's honor in Afghanistan.
We ran out of them after driving the Russians out; and Osama bin Laden came in with the Taliban.
Then we came in and drove the Taliban again; deserting them for Iraq.
Now a great many want to desert them again! No wonder they cannot trust us.
What we need in Afghanistan is 100 Greg Mortenson's, thousands of schools and good works, ngo's all over the place.
Use the money from less Stingers, Probe's and bombs to help the people - and use guys like Mortenson and the Central Pacific Institute to spend the money.
They need the good life, too.....
Hello Anderson,
Great coverage in Afghanistan; be so very safe. Please ask Dr. Gupta to talk about the role of the nurses in the war efforts.
Right time, right place,,,,, thank you Sanjay....you too, are a hero.....
Why did the CNN editors pick such a "bug-eyed", fearful picture of Dr. Sanjay Gupta to post? You want to present him as a Heroic Volunteer Medical Doctor instead of a fearful novice as depicted in the photo. When more medical Doctors volunteer for combat duty in time of war, we as a Nation and a powerful effective Military, will all be in a better position in the world. Choose better photos!
Joe – Combat Vet (Sniped-at 4 times by Viet Cong 1971)
Thank-you for fighting for our safety ! What do you see medically that you don't have,you wished you did ?
Well stated Tim. Dr. Gupta is exceptional as well as dedicated to his family, the world of medicine and journalism. May God bless him and keep him safe. I look forward to Dr. Gupta's report tonight and letting us know the condition of little 2-year-old Malik.
Just watched the piece on a vascular surgeon in Afghanistan. The report stated the Major was the only vascular surgeon in Afghanistan.I have a couple of questions who is managing this war in Afghanistan and why is there only one vascular surgeon in country? We have service men and woman being gravely injured in this country and it would be criminal to lose someone for lack of enough vascular surgeons.
BTW I forgot the 43 year old vascular surgeon's name but thank you and stay safe.
Dr. Gupta,
Regarding Dr, A. Brown,
He is of the finest kind and we all should be in his debt.
His commitment and sacrifice is beyond compare, I would like to offer a small reward to his family. please farward my offer to dinner for his wife and family at McCormick & Schmicks, CNN or Dunwoody Ga.
That is the least that I can do.
Steve Foote
VP Operations McCormick and Schmicks Seafood Restaurants.
God Bless you for what you do Dr Sanjay. He put you there for a reason.
Thank you so much for bringing both medical skill and journalistic skill to those who need it. You use your hands, mind , and voice for the betterment of mankind.
I found Sanjay's report last night to be very interesting and informative. I am glad to hear he's not afraid to help when asked - as I'm sure his skills can be put to good use in that Afghan field hospital. Looking forward to more reports from Dr. Gupta this week.
Take care and return safely.
We are grateful that you are showing us the trials and tribulations of the battle zone but we would like for you and Anderson to return in one piece...alive.
American soldiers are tough man and women who fallow orders into the battlefields.. Afghan/Taliban soldiers are tough man and women who fallow orders into the battlefields.. Moral of the story? 1st) Two wrongs don’t make one right. And 2nd) Do we really want to bring South Central LA to Afghanistan at every cost? What seems to be the tread to the cookie jar? We don’t even own Budweiser anymore. Do we really have any prospecting hopes there? I mean other then destroying their families and moral fabric just to get even for 9/11. Like we did to the Russians for giving us the cold war..?!
I'm glad Sanjay is helping out when asked; as a doctor I don't see how he could do much else. In his story last night he told us about a 2 year old that was operated on, I hope the child is still alive, has a good prognosis, and that Sanjay will give us an update on him tonight.
It is great to see some recognition for these unsung heros. There would be many more deaths without them. Give them our best. They make all of us proud.
Sometimes the unfathomable puts you were you need to be. Glad to know Sanjay was in just that place. The Ethics of Journalism colliding with the Ethics of Medicine...I think Sanjay did what he was meant to do!