TV's Dr. Drew saves a dying high school football player
Posted Nov 3rd 2009 8:34AM by John Scott Lewinski
On TV, Dr. Drew Pinsky saves people from drugs and sex. But, the Celebrity Rehab host came out of the stands at California high school football game last weekend to save the life of a dying player.Pinsky was watching his son Doug play football at Pasadena Polytechnic when a Poly player took a shot to the head. I played football for years, and these things happen. There's no indication that malice was involved in the related hit.
The injured player, Jackson Allan, came off the field and headed to the bench to talk to his coaching staff and teammates. But, as is often the case with concussions and other head injuries, the brain can be deceptive. The condition quickly grew more serious, and paramedics were called.
But, Pinsky got there first to find Allan in a coma -- no longer breathing.
Pinsky administered CPR until EMTs took over and transported the boy to the Harbor UCLA Medical Center. The kid was bleeding into his brain and required surgery to relieve the pressure.
The players' parents, school officials and the attending doctors all praised Pinsky for his quick response. But, in keeping with his deadpan bedside manner on TV, Pinsky avoided media contact since the event.
Still, you have to imagine the only people happier than the kid and his parents are the producers at VH1 who get bucket of great publicity for their popular host.
Good on ya, Dr. Drew.
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 2)
11-03-2009 @ 9:58AM
nffcnnr said...
Great story.
And where was Adam Corolla during all this? Setting up the trampoline for the cheerleaders, natch.
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11-03-2009 @ 11:08AM
Scott K. said...
You said: "Still, you have to imagine the only people happier than the kid and his parents are the producers at VH1 who get bucket of great publicity for their popular host."
Are you kidding? (Shakes his head...)
"Still, you have to imagine the only people happier than the producers at VH1 who get bucket of great publicity for their popular host are the kid, his parents and his friends."
Fixed it.
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11-03-2009 @ 3:49PM
Maury B said...
nice edit!
11-03-2009 @ 4:27PM
cathy rohrscheib said...
teachers in the house .. hey teacher.. leave those post alone all in all its just another chat room reply
11-03-2009 @ 6:47PM
Shelly said...
Great post, Loser.
11-03-2009 @ 4:25PM
Rat Fink said...
What a great man. Dr Drew's father unexpectedly died very recently. That is why he has been avoiding the media.
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11-04-2009 @ 9:40AM
Michelle said...
This is a great story and all but he is a doctor doing what doctors do everyday. The focus of this story should be the young man not Dr. Drew. Now if Joe Blow who works down at the local five and dime had ran onto the field and saved the young mans life then that would have been unexpected and amazing. The problem with the story is that Dr Drew is being glorified for being on TV and not for being a doctor. My guess is he realizes that and that is why he avoided the media. I'm sure he paid a lot of money for his education he better be able to perform CPR.
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11-03-2009 @ 6:02PM
bdr12277 said...
Dr. Drew is the man.
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11-03-2009 @ 6:46PM
jimbo chili said...
they won"t let me post + aol doesn't like taters , biscuits / gravy none neither
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11-03-2009 @ 6:56PM
tabbi said...
very nice work godbless u 4 saving a young life
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11-03-2009 @ 7:09PM
dsharlee said...
Whether everyone believes it or not, Drew Pinsky is a real doctor - as a nurse, I can easily confirm that his responses, whether on TV or radio, are clinically valid and well reasoned. So I'm not surprised that he also knows current CPR techniques.
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11-03-2009 @ 7:23PM
nursenicole said...
Yeah, I'm sure the kid and his parents will be eternally greatful when the kid spends the rest of his life lying there drooling in a nursing home. Sometimes dead is better.
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11-03-2009 @ 8:51PM
Debby said...
Stupid comment...especially from someone who is supposedly a "nurse". It's obvious you have no children.
11-03-2009 @ 11:34PM
nursenicole said...
So you'd rather your child be alive and a drooling vegetable than to die and be in a better place? How very selfish of you.
11-04-2009 @ 1:32AM
Derick said...
How do you know this kid is a vegetable? Do you have another source that says the kid is brain dead? Plenty of people recover beautifully from bleeding in their brain.
11-04-2009 @ 1:33AM
Derick said...
Also, there is absolutely no evidence of ANY kind that there is a "better place" when we die.
11-04-2009 @ 9:31AM
Sandi Greever said...
yeh, where did the article say anything about the young man being a vegetable? I didn't see it. I'm sure that he will be just fine and Dr. Drew is a fine Dr. And if he is one, then no, it wouldn't be a very good life living on a machine and no one should be hooked up to one.
11-04-2009 @ 8:38AM
Carla said...
Dr. Drew is NOT a great man. He just did a good thing. A great man wouldn't break the cardinal rule of anonymous rehabilitation just to make TV shows exploiting his patients that inevitably lead to them being unable to take their treatment seriously and relapse. Also, real psychologists aren't allowed to sit in judgment of people they haven't even treated and diagnose them over the phone (i.e. Loveline). Thirdly, someone who genuinely cares doesn't go on TV all the time (with the exception of this night) talking about his clients and gossiping. Dr. Drew is a dangerous man and a fame-whore at best.
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11-04-2009 @ 9:56AM
Erika said...
nursenicole, If you are really a nurse you of all people should know you have a legal and moral responsibility to do whatever you can until the EMT's arrive, i.e., CPR, etc. Dr. Drew did what he had to do not only as a person, but a doctor. Thankfully, he was there and you were not. Let me guess, you would allow this child to die and not try to save him? If so, you need to go into another career. I wonder what type of nurse you are, i.e., speciality...ICU, Med/Surg, Peds, etc. It's not your decision if he ends in a coma, etc. Nice that you call him a "drooling vegetable." You have no empathy. You don't know what can happen. Faith plays an important role in medicine and people forget this. The decision was/is up to the child's parents and they are going to want everything that can be medically done to save their child no matter what the outcome. This isn't just people with children this is every person who needs help. I hope you don't pass judgement on your patients, but it sure sounds like you do.
You are the one who is selfish.
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11-05-2009 @ 1:02PM
Crystal said...
I am appauled by the posts of "so-called" nurses on this thread. It does not state the post CPR/surgery status of this young man. Dr. Drew responded in the correct manner to save a life. Dr.'s oath? DO NO HARM. We cannot know the recovery level that this young man has had or will have. Neurological injuries can indeed be long-term situations, however, there are millions of people who have successfully recovered and lead normal lives. Also, youth is his friend. I am sure he will do just fine. Prayers go out to him, his family, and especially Dr. Drew. Folks, learn CPR please. This could be your child or loved one, or hey, you could save a total stranger, too. It scares me to think of how these nurses treat their patients, if that is the attitude they post on these blogs. Hope the "Worse Nurse" doesn't practice in my state! Heartless.
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