Dr. Perry. There was no evidence to that cursory examination of any other wound. I did not move the President. I did not turn him over.
Mr. Specter. Why did you not turn him over?
Dr. Perry. At that point it was necessary to attend to the emergent procedure and a satisfactory effective airway is uppermost in such a condition. If you are unable to obtain an effective airway, then the other procedures are to be of no avail.
Mr. Specter. Well, on the subject of turning him over, did you ever turn him over?
Dr. Perry. I did not.
Mr. Specter. Why didn't you turn him over after you had taken the initial action on him?
Dr. Perry. After the tracheotomy tube was in place and we were breathing for him, Dr. Clark and I had begun external cardiac massage, since we had been unable to detect a heart beat, blood pressure, or pulse. I continued with the cardiac massage while Dr. Clark examined the head wound, and he and Dr. Jenkins conferred in regard to the electrocardiogram. It was determined that none of the resuscitative measures were effective and the procedures were then abandoned.
I had no further business in the room at that point, and I left the room momentarily. I returned within a minute or so, because I had left my coat where I dropped it and asked one of the nurses to hand me my coat, and I left the room and went to the operating suite from there.
Mr. Specter. And did that conclude your participation in the treatment of President Kennedy?
Dr. Perry. It did.