Film takes a graphic look at Iraq combat ER

[Judi Lynn]

Sunday, May 14, 2006 - Page updated at 12:00 AM

Film takes a graphic look at Iraq combat ER
By Drew Brown

Knight Ridder Newspapers

WASHINGTON — The Army is bracing for the release of a documentary film that promises a graphic, unflinching portrait of life in a U.S. military hospital in Iraq.

The film, "Baghdad ER," focuses on the emergency room of the 86th Combat Support Hospital in Baghdad's fortified Green Zone during a two-month period last year as doctors and nurses treated wounded troops fresh off the battlefield. The documentary also looks at the day-to-day lives of doctors, nurses, chaplains and soldiers who work at the hospital, one of the busiest in Iraq.

The film, by Emmy winners Jon Alpert and Matthew O'Neill, airs May 21 on HBO.

A memo dated Tuesday from Lt. Gen. Kevin Kiley, the Army's chief surgeon, warned medical staff at Army posts across the country to prepare for a possible influx of soldiers and families seeking comfort and counseling after watching the documentary.
(snip/...)

http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/television/2002993106_iraqfilm14.html

[BleedingHeartPatriot]

1. Thanks for posting. I've seen snippets and it appears to be a compelling

documentary.

And the Army brass and the Pentagon don't seem to have an idea about their "official" stance on the film, as evidenced by all the contradictory statements in the article.

MKJ

[TheDebbieDee]

2. I was attached to 86th Combat Support Hospital......

during the first Persian Gulf War in '91. Back then, it was called the 86th Evac Hospital (DepMeds), I was there from early February to mid April and the hospital was set-up in or near King Khalid Military Center (KKMC).

They were a great bunch of folks in the 86th Evac and they made attached soldiers feel really welcome!

[saigon68]

3. The bush butt lickers in the military would like this stuff SUPPRESSED

That way only shots of children receiving free pencils and having their lice treated at free clinics would bombard us 24/7 on FAUX NEWS to show

FREEDOM ON THE MARCH

stuff like the evac hospital and this upsets the sheep

[Heidi]

4. Kick.

:kick:

[Barrett808]

5. Army Issues Warning About Iraq Documentary ("Baghdad ER")

Army Issues Warning About Iraq Documentary
By DEVLIN BARRETT, Associated Press Writer

WASHINGTON - The U.S. Army is warning soldiers and their families that a new film about an Iraq war medical unit may trigger mental health problems for some who view it.

Army brass have sent a cautionary warning to military medical personnel about the soon-to-be-aired HBO documentary "Baghdad ER," which gives a graphic view of the Iraq war through the eyes of trauma doctors and nurses, even filming during an amputation.

Despite many disturbing scenes, filmmaker Jon Alpert said the film had actually been toned down.

"Some of the real raw scenes were just a little bit too brutal. My first two days there, I witnessed four amputations," said Alpert.

(more)

http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20060515/ap_on_go_ca_st_pe/war_movie_warning

[Jacobin]

6. Hell, a car backfiring can do it, too

I know Viet Nam vets who have been sensitive to loud noises and duck under tables when they hear them.

Its a really bad condition.

[TomInTib]

9. That's a little different - reflex action. I know all too well.

See my reply below for my personal experience with this movie issue.

[TomInTib]

7. I have had an experience regarding this..

I remember the same crap about Apocalypse Now.

I went to see it, just because of the warnings (after pulling 3 tours of River Patrol in Vietnam).

No effect whatsoever besides thinking it was way overblown.

Picked it up on cable the other night because my girlfriend wanted to finally see some of it.

Tuned in about halfway through and I didn't last 5 minutes.

Nauseous and trembling. I felt very unsettled.

34 years have been weird, that way.

I could not believe it was happening to me. First time.

[Jacobin]

11. Those were awful times

Peace be with you, friend.

[tocqueville]

12. PTSD may have a "delayed onset" of years

PTSD may have a "delayed onset" of years, or even decades, and may even be triggered by a specific body movement if the trauma was stored in the procedural memory, by another stressful event, such as the death of a family member or someone else close, or by the diagnosis of a life-threatening medical condition.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/PTSD

[Earth_First]

8. I may be going out on a limb here...

However, I'd be generally poised to say that many military families will welcome this programming to allow those who do not have family in the military to understand what they must deal with on a daily basis.

[mom cat]

10. If seeing a film will affect their mental health, just think what seeing

in person will do. Time to bring them home.

[zreosumgame]

13. yes, the truth can do that

after all, if you have someone you care about there, you might have a problem with how little support the folks who are supposed to care for them actually get.

[Doctor_J]

14. Why isn't Dot Richardson in Baghdad?

She's one of those "athletes for Bush" and an orthopaedic surgeon. Shouldn't she be patching up Smirk's supporting cast in a MASH in the desert?

[Demeter]

15. The People Who AREN'T Disturbed that Really Have Mental Health Problems

Or is it just a personality diorder--sociopaths.

[lovuian]

16. Lets face this as a nation ... combat bring death & injuries

it must be like working in hell...Mash unit at its worse...