Posted on 06/07/2008 8:00:59 AM PDT by SwinneySwitch
Thomason Hospital was on lockdown Friday night after a patient arrived with ties to the violence in Mexico.
Administrators said they were on heightened alert and have asked the El Paso County Sheriff's Office to assist in security.
Outside the hospital, it's evident with sheriff's deputies on the campus, security is tighter.
Inside we're told all visitors must pass though screening, including metal detectors.
Hospital officials said the unidentified man was brought to Thomason with multiple gunshot wounds.
"Apparently the patient had been flown to Juarez from another Mexican community and then was taken to the Bridge of the Americas," said Margaret Althoff-Olivas, hospital director of communications.
Two women claiming to be the wife and sister of the victim said the victim is a sub-director at the Casas Grandes Police Department, just outside of Juarez.
But security at the hospital would not tell them much more than they told KFOX.
El Paso County sheriff's spokesman, Jesse Tovar, said, "I can't confirm or release exactly who he was, what was his role, what he did, what was he part of all. I can say is we're taking necessary measures for the security of the hospital staff patients and visitors."
For fear of death or further violence, the family declined to speak on camera, but they said the victim called Thursday at 8 p.m. telling them he had been shot and would be taken to El Paso in the morning for treatment where security was heightened.
"Unfortunately for our patients and visitors and staff we have had to put the hospital on lockdown." said Althoff-Olivas
Visitors to Thomason Hospital said they were either turned away or asked to go through a metal detector. Either way they said they were upset and this situation should be handled across the border.
"They need to be treated in Mexico actually. Honestly we pay tax dollars for this hospital, and they need to be treated over there, " said El Paso resident Kathy Green.
The hospital will remain on lockdown until further notice.
The Sheriff's Office won't say how many or where they will staff deputies.
"We have sufficient security in place to respond to any necessity the hospital may need, " said Tovar.
At this time the hospital will not release the man's name, age or information about his wounds or care.
According to Glenn Beck there have been 6000 people killed on the border.
EL Paso ping!
If you want on, or off this S. Texas/Mexico ping list, please FReepMail me.
I like the concept of the lockdown. That way, no potential victims can escape.
1,300 gangland murders so far this year,
more than 4,000 since Calderon took office in 12/06, including 450 police officers.
When is Glenn going to make it down to Laredo?
[Glenn Beck:] Laredo or Bust
http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/1926769/posts
“When is Glenn going to make it down to Laredo?”
I dunno. I think the more important question is when will the people we’ve elected address the issue.
must be series,
‘cause professionals and upper class mexicans
are moving across the border to their
socal homes.
si.
If I were a patient or a visitor, I’d be REALLY pissed off at the lockdown, and would be taking my verbal wrath out on the police chief, the hospital administrator, and all involved elected officials, over this Mexican.
Somebody needs to tell McCain our borders aren’t secure.
And Jorge and Juanito wonder why their erstwhile supporters now largely regard them as obscene jokes? Agovernment that cannot/will not fulfill the first duty of any government at any time anywhere in history cannot long be considered legitimate, and leaders that cannot/will not fulfill those duties soon lose their followers. Hitory proves that again and again and again.
CALM DOWN FOLKS....THIS GUY WONT BE CHARGED A PENNY FOR HIS MEDICAL CARE!
Thank you Senators Dole and Burr!
What does the police chief have to do with this?
The cost will be borne by the good citizens of El Paso, Texas. There is likely to be no reimbursement forthcoming from our federal government, just like the other unfunded mandates foisted on state and local governments.
What? You mean we're sending more troops (permanently) to Fort Bliss? Impeach Bush & Cheney!!!!
It’s his deputies doing the lockdown and protecting this Mexican, whoever the heck he is.
Crooks run everything from street gangs to government. Don't expect them to change anything. To them, everything is working just fine.
I agree. He shouldn’t have made it across the bridge. When approached at the bridge, they should have called the police in whatever town it was and made him their problem.
How many of you are feeling *compassionate* right now.
Not the police chief. The Sheriff.
My mistake. Thanks!
Thomason is the county hospital. If it needs protection, the county Sheriff is the logical choice. None of which explains why US taxpayers are paying to treat a Mexican national who was shot in Mexico. I’m with you on all that.
But, WHY? Why are they brought into the US to pose a threat to hospital personnel?
George Bush piense que Kathy Green es una racista.
From the El Paso Times:
Margaret Althoff-Olivas, spokeswoman for Thomason, said the hospital admitted the patient after an airlift to Juárez. Mexican paramedics took the victim to the Bridge of the Americas before El Paso first-responders determined that the victim required the attention of a Level 1 Trauma Center. Thomason Hospital is the only Level 1 Trauma Center within 280 miles.
“As mandated by federal law of all U.S. hospitals, Thomason’s medical personnel began immediate treatment upon the patient’s arrival,” Althoff-Olivas said. “The law É requires hospitals to stabilize any patient who presents to their facility in an emergent condition, regardless of the patient’s ability to pay or national origin.”
Do you realize that an American injured in Mexico can’t get any kind of treatment without first paying for it?
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