Ashcroft in Intensive Care

The Kernel · Post by **The Kernel** » 2004-03-05 12:17pm

CNN wrote:WASHINGTON (CNN) -- U.S. Attorney General John Ashcroft is in the intensive care unit of a Washington hospital after being admitted Thursday night for gallstone pancreatitis, the Justice Department said Friday.

The nation's top legal officer was brought to George Washington University Hospital's emergency room for evaluation of stomach complaints, Justice Department spokesman Mark Corrallo said in a statement.

Emergency room doctors determined Ashcroft was suffering from a severe case of gallstone pancreatitis, and he was admitted to intensive care for monitoring and treatment with antibiotics, the department said.

The condition occurs when a gallstone migrates from the gallbladder to the pancreas, causing a blockage.

It can be extremely painful and sometimes dangerous but usually isn't life-threatening, said CNN medical correspondent Dr. Sanjay Gupta.

Among the main symptoms is mild to severe pain in the upper abdomen that often moves to the back, according to the Mayo Clinic. Other symptoms include nausea, vomiting, high fever, difficulty breathing and abdominal bruises from internal bleeding.

Ashcroft, 61, believing he had stomach flu, canceled a Thursday appearance in Alexandria, Virginia, to announce verdicts in a terrorism case, the department said.

He went home, and when the conditioned worsened, White House physician Daniel Park visited him and concluded he should be hospitalized.

The department said doctors expect to know more about Ashcroft's condition within 48 hours.

I'm trying my hardest to give a damn, but I'm coming up short.

Gil Hamilton · Post by **Gil Hamilton** » 2004-03-05 12:26pm

I sincerely hope he gets better, even if I don't like the mans policies.

Post by **Vympel** » 2004-03-05 12:29pm

Interesting. I wonder how big the gallstone is?

Keevan_Colton · Post by **Keevan_Colton** » 2004-03-05 12:30pm

nausea, vomiting, high fever, difficulty breathing

Conscience getting to him?

Iceberg · Post by **Iceberg** » 2004-03-05 12:35pm

Schadenfreude...

Xenophobe3691 · Post by **Xenophobe3691** » 2004-03-05 12:43pm

Wait. Look, you see it? You see it? It's right at the end of this sentence, I'll point to it -------------------------->.

That's how much I care.

Hamel · Post by **Hamel** » 2004-03-05 12:48pm

Maybe he'll grow a heart after this little near-death experience

Nah

Faram · Post by **Faram** » 2004-03-05 12:49pm

I don't wish him any harm.

But I would not cry for him if the worst outcome happens.

Howedar · Post by **Howedar** » 2004-03-05 12:59pm

Gil Hamilton wrote:I sincerely hope he gets better, even if I don't like the mans policies.

I sincerely couldn't care less.

Gil Hamilton · Post by **Gil Hamilton** » 2004-03-05 01:09pm

Howedar wrote:
Gil Hamilton wrote:I sincerely hope he gets better, even if I don't like the mans policies.
I sincerely couldn't care less.

Well, I detest Ashcroft, completely and totally, but I also know that gallstones suck hard. They are a nasty thing to have, so I wouldn't wish it on him.

RedImperator · Post by **RedImperator** » 2004-03-05 01:23pm

I wish impeachment and dismissal on Ashcroft, not a painful disease.

Montcalm · Post by **Montcalm** » 2004-03-05 01:24pm

Hamel wrote:Maybe he'll grow a heart after this little near-death experience

Nah

If he ever had a hearth,he wouldn`t be in politics

Frank Hipper · Post by **Frank Hipper** » 2004-03-05 01:59pm

Iceberg wrote:Schadenfreude...

Quite so, but not from me.
I wish he'd explore a career in Contemporary Christian Music, not be sick.

EmperorMing · Post by **EmperorMing** » 2004-03-05 05:06pm

Honestly, when I read about this, the first thing that came to mind was "what goes around comes around." Probably had it coming to him.

Joe · Post by **Joe** » 2004-03-05 05:13pm

From Neal Boortz this morning:

"John Ashcroft hospitalized this morning, for shortness of breath. Apparently someone put a copy of the Constitution on his desk."