Dr. Perry. No, sir; it is perfectly proper.
Mr. Dulles. In reviewing the situation to see how you acted.
In a military situation, you have somebody who takes command.
Dr. Perry. We do, too. And it essentially is based on the same kind of thing.
Mr. Dulles. I would like to hear about that.
If it doesn't fit in here——
Mr. Specter. It is fine.
Dr. Perry. It is based on rank and experience, essentially. For example, Dr. Carrico being the senior surgical resident in the area, at the time President Kennedy was brought in to the emergency suite, would have done what we felt was necessary and would have assumed control of the situation being as there were interns and probably medical students around the area, but being senior would take it. This, of course, catapulted me into this because I was the senior attending staff man when I arrived and at that time Dr. Carrico has noted I took over direction of the care since I was senior of all the people there and being as we are surgeons, the department of surgery operates that portion of the emergency room and directs the care of the patients.
Mr. Dulles. Did you try to clear the room of unnecessary people?
Dr. Perry. This was done, not by me, but by the nurse supervisor, I assume, but several of the people were asked to leave the room. Generally, this is not necessary. In an instance such as this, it is a little more difficult, as you can understand.