Is Brain Tumour to Blame for “Mr. Middleton’s” Forgetfulness?
Barton Middleton
In the course of his testimony, Middleton claimed to have gone to surgery at the Corozal Hospital for a tumour growing at the base of his brain. When we checked this evening with the Director of Health Services, Doctor Marvin Manzanero, he told us that while the Corozal Community Hospital has an operating theater, which is used as a backup to the Northern Regional Hospital, it is for abdominal surgeries and there is no record of any brain surgery conducted at the facility. Doctor Manzanero added that almost all brain surgeries are conducted at the K.H.M.H. because of the possible complications post surgery. But Middleton claimed he suffered major headaches before taking the surgery, but after it, he admitted, he had problems with his memory that caused him to forget things – lots of things.
Ashley Rocke
Ashley Rocke, Churches Senator
“You introduced a very personal aspect of your life into the hearing this morning, and that is that you suffered a tumour that had to be removed. Could you tell us what were the conditions before you had to go under surgery?”
Barton Middleton, Businessman
“Conditions in regard to the preparation of the surgery?”
Ashley Rocke
“No, the conditions you suffered.”
Barton Middleton
“Major headaches.”
Ashley Rocke
“That’s all.”
Barton Middleton
“Yes.”
Ashley Rocke
“Did it cause you to forget things?”
Barton Middleton
“I don’t know. I’m not a doctor. I don’t know.”
Ashley Rocke
“No; you personally had to know whether you forget things or not.”
Barton Middleton
“Well, I forget things all the time.”
Ashley Rocke
“But before the surgery, you forgot things?”
Carla Barnett
Barton Middleton
“Yes.”
Ashley Rocke
“And after the surgery, you still forget things?”
Barton Middleton
“Yes.”
Ashley Rocke
“So you’re telling us that a lot of the things that may have happened before the surgery, you forgot?”
Barton Middleton
“I forget a lot of things, sir. That’s it.”
Dr. Carla Barnett, U.D.P. Senator
“I’m having a very difficult time this morning, well it’s afternoon now. You told us about your surgery, and I wish you well; I hope that there are no further issues…”
Barton Middleton
“Thank you.”
Dr. Carla Barnett
“But as far as I am aware, brain surgery is not done in Corozal; the hospital there, the Government hospital, does not have the capacity to entertain that – I’m not even sure if Karl Heusner does, though they’ve been building up their capacity to do that kind of thing.”
Barton Middleton
“I never said I took brain surgery.”
Dr. Carla Barnett
“So what did you take, sir?”
Barton Middleton
“I said I got a tumour removed from the back of my head, I didn’t say anything about brain surgery.”
Dr. Carla Barnett
“Okay, so it would have had to be from the outside, not the inside of the skull; that’s the point that I am making.”
Barton Middleton
“Okay.”
Dr. Carla Barnett
“Because they would not have the capacity to go inside the skull at the Corozal Hospital; that’s my understanding – and if I am wrong, then we can… But I don’t think that I am.”
