Lawmakers rush to aide injured intern

A female intern collapsed and suffered a minor head injury during a House Energy and Commerce Committee hearing Wednesday morning. Luckily for her, there was a doctor in the House. More than one, in fact.

Almost immediately after the intern apparently fainted, bumping her head on the dais as she fell, committee members with medical backgrounds rushed to her aide, including Rep. Phil Gingrey (R-Ga.) and Del. Donna Christensen (D-V.I.), both physicians, and Rep. Tim Murphy (R-Pa.), who is trained as a psychologist. The intern just happened to suffer her fall right next to the only nurse in Congress, too: Rep. Lois Capps (D-Calif.). A Capitol Police officer on the scene also stepped in to help.

After a few minutes, the intern got to her feet and was helped out of the committee room. The hearing, by the way, was about healthcare reform.

– Jeffrey Young