Republican Rep. Ronny Jackson (R-TX) found himself in a distressing situation at a Texas rodeo over the weekend. As a doctor and former White House physician for Presidents Barack Obama and Donald Trump, he was trying to help a 15-year-old girl who was experiencing a seizure. However, local law enforcement officers handcuffed and restrained him while he was attempting to provide medical assistance.
According to witnesses, Jackson was at the White Deer Rodeo, where the teenage girl was having a seizure due to possible hypoglycemia. A relative of the girl, Linda Dianne Shouse, a home healthcare and traveling nurse, was also on the scene, waiting for emergency medical services to arrive. However, when law enforcement officials arrived, they began shouting at the crowd to move back.
Shouse claimed she was pushed and punched by a woman, and she witnessed a law enforcement officer aggressively confront Jackson, yelling expletives and disregarding his attempts to identify himself as a doctor. Despite his efforts to explain that he could help, the situation escalated, and he was forcibly handcuffed and thrown to the ground, face-first into the concrete.
Shouse emphasized that the situation was already under control, with her providing initial assistance, and they were ready to report to EMS and get the patient to safety. Unfortunately, the chaotic environment led to confusion among law enforcement, resulting in Jackson being temporarily detained and prevented from continuing to help the patient.
A spokesperson for Jackson’s office clarified that he was a spectator at the rodeo and was not drinking. When he arrived at the scene, he found a nurse relative already assisting the girl. He identified himself as a physician and offered his help, which the nurse accepted. However, due to the loud and chaotic atmosphere, misunderstandings arose between Jackson and law enforcement, leading to his brief detention and preventing him from further aiding the patient.
The incident raises concerns about the handling of medical emergencies and highlights the challenges medical professionals may face when trying to provide assistance in hectic situations.
Republican Rep. Ronny Jackson of Texas was handcuffed and placed on the ground face-first by local law enforcement while he was trying to assist a teenage girl in medical distress at a rodeo over the weekend, according to a witness who spoke to CNN https://t.co/UyPlOjebtO
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