Testimony of Dr. Fouad A. Bashour

Mr. Specter.

Dr. Fouad A. Bashour
TESTIMONY OF DR. FOUAD A. BASHOUR

Mr. Specter.

The testimony of Dr. Fouad A. Bashour was taken at 1:15 p.m., on March 25, 1964, at Parkland Memorial Hospital, Dallas, Tex., by Mr. Arlen Specter, assistant counsel of the President's Commission.

Mr. SPECTER. May the record show that Dr. Fouad Bashour has appeared pursuant to a letter of request from the President's Commission on the Assassination of President Kennedy, in connection with the Commission's inquiry into all of the factors surrounding the assassination of the President, including medical treatment received at Parkland Hospital, and Dr. Bashour's knowledge, if any, as related to the treatment in the emergency room.
With that preliminary statement of purpose, Dr. Bashour, would you mind rising and then raise your right hand?
Do you solemnly swear that the testimony you give before the President's Commission in this deposition proceeding will be the truth, the whole truth, and nothing but the truth, so help you God ?
Dr. BASHOUR. I do.

Mr. Specter.

Would you state your full name for the record, please?
Dr. BASHOUR. F-o-u-a-d (spelling), Fouad A. Bashour.

Mr. Specter.

What is your profession, sir ?
Dr. BASHOUR. I am an internist with a specialization in cardiology. I am associate professor of medicine.

Mr. SPECTER. Are you duly licensed by the State of Texas to practice medicine here ?
Dr. BASHOUR. Yes.

Mr. Specter.

And are you board certified at the present time ?

Dr. BASHOUR. No, sir; I don't have my board because I am not yet a citizen. I will be taking my citizenship this year, I hope, and then I will be able to sit for the board.
Mr. SPECTER. Did you have occasion to assist in the treatment of President Kennedy back on November 22, 1963 ?
Dr. BASHOUR. Yes; we were called from the dining room, the doctors' dining room, and we went directly to the President Kennedy room.

Mr. Specter.

When you say "we" whom do you mean by that?
Dr. BASHOUR. Dr. Seldin and myself--we left the dining room and went right straight down to the President's room.

Mr. Specter.

And what is Dr. Seldin's first name ?
Dr. BASHOUR. Donald.

Mr. Specter.

And what is his specialty, if any ?

Dr. BASHOUR. He's chairman of the department of medicine and professor of medicine. He is a specialist and a recognized famous specialist in renal diseases.

Mr. Specter.

And what, in lay language, does that facet of medicine involve?
Dr. BASHOUR. Kidney diseases.
Mr. SPECTER. Did Dr. Seldin accompany you into the emergency room where President Kennedy was located?
Dr. BASHOUR. We went to the room together and then I was left alone because this is a problem--a heart problem.

Mr. Specter.

Did Dr. Seldin remain in the room with you?

Dr. BASHOUR. Well, he came and stayed for--he just left the room after we came in.

Mr. Specter.

How long did he stay in the room ?
Dr. BASHOUR. A few seconds.

Mr. Specter.

Who was present in the room when you arrived ?

Dr. BASHOUR. When I arrived, Dr. Kemp Clark was doing the cardiac massage on the President, Dr. Jenkins was in charge of controlling artificial respiration of the President, and the probably there were some three or four--I don't remember.
Mr. SPECTER. And what did you observe the President's condition to be at the time you arrived?
Dr. BASHOUR. The President was lying on the stretcher, the head wound was