OCR Text |
Show Thsnday, Fsksery 7, 1975 -7- The Ute Bulletin V&c&ncy - Announcement Position Title Boy s Death Being Investigated Executive Director, American Indian Press Association Salary Range By John S. Miller Appeal Editor EDITORS NOTE: The following article wai first published in the Carson City, Nevada Appeal on Jan. 9. It is here with the permission of Appeal Editor John S. Miller who wrote the story. ed A Stewart Indian School student died recently following complications from surgery in Carson City. Death came after a tragic series of events k period in December. during a John Conetah, a Ute Indian from student at Myton, Utah and a first-yeStewart, went to Carson-Taho- e Hospital for surgery to remove tonsils and adenoids. He was admitted for surgery on Dec. 4 and he died Dec. 18. Finding people willing and qualified to talk about the incident has not been easy and the Appeal has only just now reached a point where it can report the details. The following chronology is taken from hospital records. Wednesday, Dec. 4: Conetah is admitted to Carson-Taho- e Hospital in the afternoon to prepare for surgery the next day. Thursday, Dec. 5: surgery to remove tonsils and adenoids is performed on Conetah at 7:35 a.m. He was fed Jello and fruit juice that evening. Nurse reports he slept well. Friday, Dec. 6: he was up and about and watched TV. He complained of a sore throat to a nurse. Saturday, Dec. 7: doctor reports case normal and routine. The boy was released and sent back to Stewart. Sunday, Dec. 8: youngster showed up at 6 a.m. in Emergency Receiving. He had been hemorrhaging. Bleeding was stopped and he was re admitted for observation. Monday, Dec. 9: he was dismissed in the afternoon and sent back to Stewart. Tuesday, Dec. 10: brought to Emergency Receiving that afternoon in the back of a station wagon in a bled out condition. Emergency Room doctor, nurses and personnel spent 90 minutes to get him breathing." He was removed to surgery and then placed in the Intensive Care Unit. Wednesday, Dec. 18: a series of brain wave tests proved brain death" had already taken place and so life support equipment was disconnected. . ld two-wee- ar . Autopsy Perfomod An autopsy was conducted and it was learned that the actual cause of death was due to loss of blood and not due to asphyxiation from blood inhalation as first susp' 'ted. Through interviews it was determined the chronology of events on campus went like this: Saturday, Dec. 7: Conetah returned to Stewart campus. Either missed or was refused the dinner meal. Attended basketball game on campus where several witnesses report he was seen eating popcorn. Sunday, Dec. 8: reported bleeding problem to dormitory supervisor and he was taken to hospital. Monday, Dec. 9: returned to Stewart in the afternoon. Tuesday, Dec. 10: reported not feeling well and begged off of morning classes. He returned to his dorm and when the dorm supervisor found him not feeling well, sent him to the health clinic. A nurse's aide at the clinic took him to a vacant room and told him to lie down on a couch. Later, another student reported finding Conetah bleeding badly. Conetah was placed in a station wagon and driven to the hospital. this writer The first while encountered seeking information non-talk- er was the attending physician, Dr. Robert Brown. Over a period of several days, he failed to return phone calls to his office. I finally went to his office late one afternoon and announced myself to the receptionist. After all the patients in the waiting room had come and gone, the receptionist came out and announced that the doctor had been called to the hospital but in any event wouldn't be able to answer any questions." When I asked where I might get information on Conetah she suggested that I go out to the Stewart campus and interview some of the kids. Theyre pretty outspoken," she added. William Whipple, the acting superintendent at Stewart, declined to answer questions or comment on the incident. He did note at the time that Joe Paradise, a counselor at Stewart was conducting an investigation for the Bureau of Indian Affairs." BIA InwsctigstiM FMrind I'm more afraid of a tonsilectomy than an $16,000 to $20,000 per annum operation for appendicitis. They negotiable, depending upon qualifications are dangerous and I won't do and background. one without good reason. The Appeal examined the performance Location of the hospital and the doctor. Dr. Brown kept the Conetah boy hospitalized for two 1346 Connecticut Avenue, N. W., days after, when the usual stay is one. 20036 D.C. Washington, This was, according to a hospital employe, because the doctor didn't want Closing Date him to return too early to dormitory living. We keep all Stewart kids two Extended to April 4, 1975 days," a staffer noted. According to an eyewitness in the emergency room when the boy arrived Duties for the last time, attempts to restore short were and pulse' nothing breathing The executive director administers the of heroic. He was afforded every modern device ' and professional skill, it was operations of the American Indian Press Association (AIPA) and is responsible to noted. Board of Directors of the Association the I'd never seen anything like it, the in accordance with the Articles of witness commented, I thought his throat Incorporation and Constitution and had been slit. Blood was all over. There The variety and scope of duties were four simultaneous transfusions. We y include: business, fund used electroshock everything. We proposal writing, membership raising, worked for nearly two hours. There technical solicitation, sales, subscription wasn't a thing we didn't do. conto Indian assistance publications, So, a month later, the boy lies buried at new developing tracting, programs continues home his reservation: a gloom conducting workshops and intern pro-to hang over shocked and saddened grams, and coordinating meetings and investiof a hospital employes; variety the Association's annual conference. gations" are over or nearing completion; Stewart students are back from Christmas vacation and a family is filing General Experience (tonsi-lectomie- s) By-Law- s. day-to-da- Phone calls to Stewart yesterday revealed that Paradises probe is complete and Whipple is in Phoenix, Ariz., discussing the situation with BIA leaders. Paradise declined to discuss details of his investigation but stated, It's just as we suspected, there isn't anything sensational and there is nothing significant in the report." He added that W'hipple would be back from Phoenix on Friday and would probably have a news release on the incident." Also conducting an investigation is Benson Gibson, director of the Nevada Indian Commission, headquartered in Carson City. Gibson's job, however, requires constant travel and the Appeal has not been able to contact him lately. The Appeal has learned that the boys parents, Mr. and Mrs. Fred Conetah, have authorized tribal attorneys, Kennedy and Boyden of Salt Lake City, to probe the situation. They in turn retained Reno attorney William 0. Bradley of Bradley and Drendel. Bradley told the Appeal that his clients plan to sue everyone involved in order to force the presentation of statements and documents so we can find out what really happened. At the Stewart health clinic the Appeal discovered that the health nurse had earlier resigned and had been gone since the first of December. The Stewart agency at last word had advertised for replacements and would be selecting one in the near future. On Dec. 10, however, when the Conetah boy was sent to the clinic, there was neither a registered nurse nor a licensed practical nurse present to receive him. A nurses aide sent him to a room to lie down. A fellow student later discovered him bleeding. A clinic employe has claimed the boy was only there for 15 to 20 minutes." However, a Carson City physician contacted by the Appeal for technical commentary stated, I wouldnt buy it. For the amount of blood loss observed in the emergency room this would require bleeding from a great artery. He added that bleeding in fatal amounts from such an operation would require a much greater length of time. The doctor did note that there are major blood sources so bleeding problems are a genuine hazard. The doctor the Appeal talked to indicated he doubted the wisdom of letting the youth return so quickly to normal activity and normal diet. He said he requires his young patients to take a week off meaning no school and no coarse or hot foods. The first 24 hours they should have only clear liquids and. thereafter only soft, cool foods." The doctor added, There is no such thing as a simple or minor operation. Any time you do any cutting there is danger. , lawsuits. Federal Grants Now Available For Ute Businesses The Indian Business Development Program, (IBDP), recently authorized under the Indian Financing Act of 1974, will assist individual Tribal members in establishing their own businesses, according to Roger Coonrod, Bureau of Indian Affairs Program Officer. Under the new program, grants of up to 40 of the funds needed to establish a business, or purchase a business already in operation, will be provided to Indian businessmen. The grants, which will be limited to sums under $50,000, will not ever have to be repaid, according to Mr. Coonrod. The remaining 60 of the needed for a business money enterprise must come from the Individual TYibal member or other sources. The grants may also be awarded to Tribal members who already own a business and wish to expand the operation. To be eligible for a grant, the proposed business must fulfill the following requirements: d Must be profit-oriente- at least 51 owned by Indians or Indian organizations Must be Must Three to five years progressively responsible experience in a line of work which has provided a general background in administration and management, particularly in the field of communications. Previous experience as managing editor of a publication or radio or television station or program highly desirable. College level education in business administration may be substituted at the rate of one year of education for nine months of general experience up to a maximum of four academic years for three years of general experience. Specialized Experience Three years progressively responsible experience that provided knowledge and techniques in the following: management, program planning, organizational development, and training. Quality of Experience Prefer at least some proven ability in fund raising, news writing and research. Selective Placement Factors Candidates will be evaluated on their ability to effectively meet and deal with others, an analytical ability, and on supervisory ability or potential, and on a of contemporary Native knowledge American affairs. Preference will be given to an American Indian or Native Alaskan. create jobs for Indians Must be located on the reservation or nearby where it will make an economic contribution to the Indian Community Applicants must be unable to meet their total financing needs from their own resources and financing from other sources How To Apply Consideration will be limited to persons who apply. Interested applicants should submit a resume the last ten (10) years experiencecovering and education including three professional references, addresses and telephone numbers. Must be legal to do business under Tribal, state and federal laws Applications for these grants may be obtained from Mr. Coonrods office which is located in the BIA building. Further information about this program is available from Mr. Coonrod at Ext. 25. 722-240- 5, Where To Apply All applications should be sent to: American Indian Press Association, 1346 Connecticut Avenue, N. W., Rm. 206, Washington, D. C. 20036, attention President. Telephone number is (202) 293-915- 0. |