One of the surgeons treating Rep. Gabrielle Giffords (D-AZ) for the gunshot wound to the head she sustained Saturday says her chances for survival are “100 percent,” and that he’s optimistic “she’s not going to be in a vegetative type of state.”
“Well, I would say — you know, as a physician I am going to get in a lot of trouble for this — but her prognosis for survival is 100 percent, as far as it being short term,” Dr. Peter Rhee told Britain’s Channel 4 News. “I mean, hopefully she’ll live to be 95 years old. What her recovery is going to do, I really don’t know. I am very optimistic that she’s not going to be in a vegetative type of state, I think she’s going to make a fair amount of recovery. And what kind of deficits that she’ll have in the future, I really can’t say at this point, but I am still very optimistic.”
[TPM Slideshow: Giffords On The Job In Arizona]
Rhee said Giffords is not in a coma, but is very heavily sedated. Doctors have been waking her periodically to “see how she’s doing.”
The Tucson Sentinel reports Giffords remains in critical condition, and doctors are planning another press conference on her condition this morning.
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Eric Lach
Eric Lach is a reporter for TPM. From 2010 to 2011, he was a news writer in charge of the website’s front page. He has previously written for The Daily, NewYorker.com, GlobalPost and other publications. He can be reached at ericl(at)talkingpointsmemo.com
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