Outfoxed In the District

Excerpts from the transcript of a videotaped deposition of a former Howard University Hospital emergency room physician, conducted Aug. 3, 2007:

Physician: "When I came upon him, I asked what was wrong with the patient to a nearby nurse, and where is the chart, and looked at the chart rack. The nurse had not seen a chart and there was no chart on the chart rack."

Question: What did she say to you at that point?

He is just an alcoholic, and I don't know where the chart is or something close to that, but I remember her telling me that he was an alcoholic.

Tell me about the conversation you had with this nurse about the [Emergency Medical Services] stretcher?

I just asked why was the patient there on that stretcher in the hallway and not-[sic] entered into a dialogue about him having vomit on his clothing.

What did you say about the vomit on his clothing?

It is hard for me to recall specifically what I said. I just remember the general conversation, that this patient should not be on that stretcher, and cleaned up, if indeed he is an alcoholic, you know.

Do you remember anything that the nurse said back to you about either the stretcher or the vomit?

Specifics, no, but she basically did not want to help to transfer the patient because she was busy doing other things. You know, they were short staffed.

Do you remember anything she said that gave you that impression?