Thread: TX-County wants drug-war patient access clarified

County wants drug-war patient access clarified
By Gustavo Reveles Acosta / El Paso Times
Article Launched: 07/15/2008 12:00:00 AM MDT



Video: Times-KTSM newscast on this story
El Paso County officials believe the authorization that allows wounded Mexican law-enforcement agents to cross the international bridges to seek medical treatment is taking place at the federal level, and that they should be informed about the decisions.

Thomason Hospital CEO Jim Valenti and County Commissioner Veronica Escobar said Monday that they want federal agencies such as U.S. Customs and Border Protection to share information with local law enforcement about the process that goes into transporting Mexican officials wounded in the drug war in Juárez from any port of entry into Thomason's Level 1 trauma center.

"We need to elevate this to the federal level and have some open dialogue as to what exactly is going on here," Valenti said. "What we are asking of our state and federal officials is that we start conversations about this violence issue that is affecting the entire community."

So far this year, 11 people have been treated at Thomason for injuries suffered in Juárez as drug-related violence continues. Valenti said seven of them were U.S.
citizens.
On Friday, a Juárez police officer was transported to Thomason from one of the international bridges for treatment of three gunshot wounds, causing the hospital to go into the highest level of security.

The police officer was released Monday and the hospital returned to its normal security status.

Valenti said the hospital will not refuse treatment to any wounded person who sets foot in El Paso, but asked federal officials to begin conversations with local agencies about the process of letting people injured in Mexico cross the border for medical help.

Ana Hinojosa, the director of field operations for the El Paso field office of U.S. Customs and Border Protection, said the process Valenti and Escobar want to know about is not different than the one that is used under any medical emergency.

"We get people who come in private vehicles who are bleeding, or they come in ambulances," she said. "But the bottom line is that under federal law, all we can do is determine whether that person is admissible into the United States and then call 911 just like everybody else does."

According to information gathered by local officials, Thomason is the only hospital along the U.S.-Mexico border that is treating people wounded during drug war-related incidents.

"There is a pattern evolving in El Paso where higher powers are giving the OK for certain people to be waved through the ports of entry with claims of medical attention," Escobar said. "Some of these claims are legitimate, but I argue that others -- like the case of a police officer who was shot in the hand -- are not."

Hinojosa said no such coordination or agreement between Mexican and U.S. authorities exists.

She added that her agency has no say in which hospital ambulances choose to take patients picked up at international ports of entry.

"We find out about the people that are coming when they're in our doorstep," Hinojosa said. "After we call 911, it's up to the ambulance to which facility they transport the individual."

Valenti on Saturday called on elected officials to help deter the flow of people wounded in the Juárez drug war into Thomason.

U.S. Rep. Silvestre Reyes, D-Texas, said the recently approved Merida Initiative could help by providing Mexico with the training, equipment and intelligence needed to reduce drug-related crime along the border.

"The escalating violence in Mexico is an issue that requires the cooperation and assistance of the United States. The Merida Initiative is an opportunity to work in partnership with Mexico to make El Paso, the border region, and our two nations safe from drug-related crime," he said. "I am working with officials on both sides of the border to ensure that the aid from the Merida Initiative will target the escalating violence in the U.S.-Mexico border region."Ê

Gustavo Reveles Acosta may be reached at greveles@elpasotimes.com; 546-6133.


http://origin.elpasotimes.com/news/ci_9882259

I wonder how many AMERICANS either died or suffered because this hospital was forced into lock-down? WHY the HELL are we taking care of mexicans hurt in mexico?!?!?! Absolutely NO common sense at all! The mexican government can airlift them to a mexican hosptial, why are WE stuck with them?!?!?!

I THINK THIS IS HIGHLY DANGEROUS. IT EXPOSES AMERICAN PATIENTS TO MEXICAN DRUG WAR VIOLENCE. THE DRUG CARTELS ARE ACTUALLY TRYING TO KILL THESE PEOPLE THAT COME TO BORDER HOSPITALS. THEY WILL FOLLOW THEM IF THEY CAN. WHAT ABOUT THE OTHER PATIENTS? WHAT ABOUT THEIR SAFETY?