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Wed Nov 7 18:47:43 GMT 2007

If the NYTimes is like other newspapers, the guy who writes the story
doesn’t write the headline, which I thought was the negative sounding part.
I thought the article made it sound like Dr. Holcomb had accomplished a lot
of important and positive changes in the Army's Trauma System.  He seemed
very focused and dedicated and I thought he repeatedly made the point that
it was imperative that the knowledge gained from this terrible experience be
used to improve trauma care for soldiers and civilians alike. I also thought
he sounded pretty forthcoming about the trials, the lack of strongly
positive data and his rationale for going ahead anyway. Artificial blood has
been a very difficult "Holy Grail" for a long time. Lots of previously
promising products have not panned out. To say the least.

Rob Smith

-----Original Message-----
From: trauma-list-bounces at trauma.org [mailto:trauma-list-bounces at trauma.org]
On Behalf Of Roy Danks
Sent: Wednesday, November 07, 2007 1:26 PM
To: Trauma &amp; Critical Care mailing list
Subject: RE: Army Trauma Medidine: NY Times

This blog will likely generate a huge response, so clear your inbox out!

I'm a huge proponent of Col Holcomb's.   I've met the man and talked to him.
He is the consummate gentleman and a scholar among scholars.

What is conspicuously missing from the NY Times article is the fact,
undisputable in my mind, that war, as horrible as it is, helps trauma
surgery/care make strides of nearly exponential gain.  All wars have done
this.  Look in the first chpt of Mattox's book...much is about the advances
of trauma surgery as it pertains to war.

What Col Holcomb is doing in the war (not alone, of course) is making the
necessary adjustments in the midst of very trying and difficult
circumstances, with injuries that most of us outside of the armed forces
will see only a smattering of in our career.

Sounds to me like Dr. Shorr may have an axe to grind.

If you've not read Mash, an Army Surgeon in Korea, Otto F. Apel, I strongly
recommend it.  His early work on arterial "transplants" is in the book.  Not
entirely ethical by today's standards, but certainly was a major
advancement.

This war is going to take hits from all angles.  I'll leave my 2 cents out.
But I support what the military surgeons, nurses, medics, etc are doing over
there 110%.  The NY Times will slant anything they can away from the
positive if it advances their agenda.

RRD

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Army Trauma Medidine: NY Times