A Doctor's response to my "Tale of Two Babies" post.

I have received multiple e-mails today from people providing helpful links, interesting pictures, and, of course, scathing rebuttals to my post.

Hidden within this avalanche of correspondence was one e-mail from a doctor who offered some interesting insights and provided contact information in case I wanted to question him further. Well of course my interest was piqued, so I called him.

The first thing I did was to establish that he was indeed an actual doctor (After all on the internet we can pretend to be experts on just about ANYTHING. I actually know of a politician who quit her job yet still pretends that her opinions are on the same level of importance as those of the President. Imagine that.) After only a few minutes of conversation there was no doubt that this person was indeed a physician, and very bright one at that.

We talked for quite awhile and when we came to the end of our conversation I asked if he would be willing to write a brief post outlining some of the things that he had mentioned. Here is that post.

While I am generally unimpressed by conspiracy theories, I have to say that I find Gryphen's pictures compelling. Clearly these are two separate children; I haven't any more idea than anyone else as to why the former governor would perpetrate such a hoax, although her history of erratic behavior I suppose would support almost any explanation.

I have had a passing interest in the Trig Palin story ever since Cathy Baldwin-Johnson's odd, carefully-worded statement concerning Governor Palin's health was published in the late hours immediately before the 2008 election. The link to the actual text is below:

www.latimes.com/media/acrobat/2008-11/43179602.pdf

For the most part this is a simple boilerplate statement, but it is remarkable for its lack of a birthdate for Trig - doubt about which was of course the reason for the statement's release in the first place.

From my point of view, however, as a practicing physician, the larger question is whether Governor Palin's physician was aware of this hoax, and if so, to what level did she participate and if indeed she did, was that participation medically, morally or ethically improper?

In its role as the ultimate guarantor of public safety, the State has a vested interest in the ethical and legal behavior of physicians it licenses. In fulfilling that role, each and every state has a state physician licensing board. I believe there is more than enough evidence for the Alaska State Medical Board to investigate Cathy Baldwin-Johnson's participation in this matter, and to determine if she breached standards set by that Board for physician conduct. They will ask - and she will answer - pointed, unequivocal questions concerning exactly what took place at the birth of Trig Palin, and as a doctor with thirty years' experience, I can assure you that no physician would ever risk losing her medical license by answering falsely.

It would seem to me that the issue hinges around four questions: firstly, did Cathy Baldwin-Johnson advise Sarah Palin to board an airplane for a ten-hour trip at altitude while showing signs of active labor? Although I am not an obstetrician, if she did so, I believe that would clearly constitute malpractice. Secondly, I would ask whether she assisted in falsifying records concerning the birth date of Trig Palin; if so, that is most likely a felony, which would result in a physician's losing his/her license in all fifty states. Thirdly, I would ask Dr. Baldwin-Johnson to chronicle exactly what took place in the birth of Trig Palin and to explain why Governor Palin felt compelled, as a Vice-Presidential candidate to lie about or obfuscate concerning those circumstances. Fourthly, I would be curious as to what the actual explanation is for the two different children Palin has presented as her son Trig and if Baldwin-Johnson had any prior knowledge or complicity.

This sad little charade has nearly unraveled; all that remains of this pathetic tale is the denouement. The Alaska State Medical Board has the opportunity - and the authority - and the responsibility - to open this abscess to the fresh air and bright sunlight that will bring about its cure. There must be numerous physicians in Alaska who are scratching their heads over this whole tale just as I am, now more than ever. The time has come for them to step up the plate, contact their medical licensing board, and demand that these questions be answered once and for all.

Update: Somebody just asked why I don't provide the doctor's name. Is this really a question that needs to be answered?

I did not think so.

Scurry back to the "Ocean of Urine" my little friend and report to your queen that once again it did not work.