MovieChat Forums > Killing Lincoln (2013) Discussion > Could Lincoln Have Survived?

Could Lincoln Have Survived?

posted 11 years ago by TorontoJediMaster
6 replies | jump to latest

When I watched this film earlier this evening, I found it startling that while a doctor was on the scene and attending Lincoln within a few minutes of the shooting, there seemed to be very little he could do. It amounted to basic first aid, more than anything else. That's not a knock at the doctors who were doing the best they could with the techniques of the time, but it clearly wasn't much.

What I was wondering is that was the wound Lincoln sustained survivable if he'd lived in the present and had access to modern medical care? My guess is that he could have survived with modern trauma care.

[–] BertramWilberforceWooster 11 years ago

I've read before that he could have survived even then. IIRC, the theory was that the doctor using his medical instruments is what ultimately caused his death.

Now, as for could he survive today? I'd give it a 50/50 shot. Yes, we have better instruments, but where he was shot, you have to wonder would he have been a vegetable.

--
Once upon a time, we had a love affair with fire.
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[–] pilgergreg 11 years ago

There was an article a while ago that sais it could have been possible.

I think it was this one: http://www.umm.edu/news/releases/abraham_lincoln.htm

[–] dab6 11 years ago

That article says that he'd may have been able to retain his cognitive abilities if he regained consciousness since his frontal lobe was intact, but he suffered damage to his communication areas, so likely he would have been unfit to continue as President.

[–] grapeape67 11 years ago

As doctor I'd have to say no.
Even in 1865, the BEST doctors kept poking their instruments and fingers into the wound. From their descriptions, even from the perspective of 2013 medicine Lincoln had a lethal blow.
James Garfield WOULD have lived, though in today's world.
Now THOSE doctors literally killed him.

[–] esskayess 11 years ago

Yes, they did. Had they just left the bullet alone (as with Theodore Roosevelt when he was shot), Garfield would have been fine.

[–] NobodymournstheWicked 9 years ago

Talk about being at the right place at the right time, or talk about being at the right place at the wrong time, I ma sure the doctor was there on his own time, and not going to have to be needed to try to help somebody. But he had said that his wound was mortal, and there was no way he would be able to surive. Now in today's world it is different then say if he was living in 2015 then 1865. Now I am not a doctor and nor do I pretend to be one, so you would have to take it up with a real doctor to look at what the findings of Charles Leale. Now here is what I read on wikipedia

A few days before Lincoln's assassination, Leale took a brief break from his exhausting job and took a walk down Pennsylvania Avenue for some fresh air. He noticed a crowd of people heading towards the White House. He discovered Lincoln giving his last public address to the public and was intrigued by the president's facial features. Soon after, Leale learned that Lincoln was going to Ford's Theatre to see the play Our American Cousin. "After completing his duties...Leale changed to civilian clothes and rushed to the Theater, not to see the play, but to study President Lincoln's face and facial expressions."[3] He asked for a seat in the orchestra so he would have an unhindered view, but arrived late and was given a seat in the dress circle (near the front, same side and 40 ft away from the president's box).

And I know that people can edit the site and make up stuff, but provided that is all true, he was able to get to him a lot quicker then he would have been able to if he had his seat in the orchestra which would also be the main floor. I wonder if a doctor would be able to really answer the question if he would have been able to surive in today's world then in 1865.