Mr. Specter.

"How did the practitioner who signed the death certificate of the President fail to take the trouble to turn him over?" Of course, that refers to you and will you give me your answer to that question, as the news media has posed it?
Dr. CLARK. Quite simply, as I previously stated, the duration of time the President was alive was occupied by attempts to save his life. When these failed, further examination of the patient's body was not done, as it was felt that little could be gained or learned that would be helpful in deciding the course of events leading up to his assassination, that is, examination by me, as I knew an autopsy would be performed which would be far more meaningful and revealing than any cursory external examination conducted in the emergency room by me.

Mr. SPECTER.. Now, was the action taken by you in signing the death certificate based upon the examination which you made in accordance with what you believed to be good medical practice?
Dr. CLARK. Yes, sir.
Mr. SPECTER. So that the characterization here of "L' Express" that the failure to turn the President over would not constitute gross negligence in your professional Judgment, as they have characterized it here.
Dr. CLARK. No, sir. One other point, if I may here?

Mr. Specter.

Yes.

Dr. CLARK. In order to move the President's body to Bethesda where the autopsy was to be performed, a death certificate had to be filled out in conformance with Texas State law to allow the body to be transported. This is the second part of the signing of the death certificate.

Mr. Specter.

Do you have anything to add, Dr. Clark, which you think might be helpful at all in the inquiry being made by the President's Commission?
Dr. CLARK. NO; I don't think so.

Mr. SPECTER. And did you and I chat for just a moment or two about the questions I would ask you on this supplemental deposition before it went on the record?
Dr. CLARK. Yes, sir.
Mr. SPECTER. And have you talked to any representative of the Federal Government between the time I took your deposition last Saturday and this Wednesday morning?
Dr. CLARK. No, sir.

Mr. Specter.

Thank you very much, Dr. Clark.
Dr. CLARK. All right.

Dr. Robert Nelson McClelland

Testimony of Dr. Robert Mcclelland Nelson

The testimony of Dr. Robert Nelson McClelland was taken on March 21, 1964, at Parkland Memorial Hospital, Dallas, Tex., by Mr. Arlen Specter, assistant counsel of the President's Commission.

Mr. Specter.

Will you raise your right hand?

Dr. Mcclelland.

Yes.

Mr. Specter.

Do you solemnly swear that the testimony you give in these proceedings will be the truth, the whole truth, and nothing but the truth, so help you God ?

Dr. Mcclelland.

I do.

Mr. Specter.

Dr. McClelland, the purpose of this proceeding is to take your deposition in connection with an investigation which is being conducted by the President's Commission on the Assassination of President Kennedy, and the specific purpose of our requesting you to answer questions relates to the topic of the medical care which President Kennedy received at Parkland Memorial Hospital.
Dr. McClelland, will you tell us your full name for the record, please?

Dr. Mcclelland.

Robert Nelson McClelland.