Boston Marathon bombing suspect Dzhokhar Tsarnaev 'critical but stable'

[malaise]

http://www.guardian.co.uk/world/2013/apr/21/boston-marathon-dzhokhar-tsarnaev-injuries
<snip>
The surviving Boston bombings suspect is so seriously injured that investigators may struggle to interrogate him effectively, it was suggested on Sunday, as further questions were raised about the FBI's previous contacts with his dead brother.

Dzhokhar Tsarnaev, the 19-year-old who is accused of planting the pressure-cooker bombs with his older brother Tamerlan that killed three and injured more than 180 at the Boston Marathon last Monday, was being treated in hospital for a reported bullet wound to the throat and was unable to speak. He was captured on Friday night, a day after a violent gun battle with police that left his brother, Tamerlan Tsarnaev, 26, dead.

Dan Coats, a Republican member of the Senate intelligence committee, told ABC: "The information that we have is that there was a shot to the throat. It doesn't mean he can't communicate, but right now I think he's in a condition where we can't get any information from him at all."

The Boston mayor, Tom Menino, told This Week on ABC that he was so seriously ill that agents might never be able to interrogate him. But there were reports later on Sunday that he was answering questions in writing.

[frazzled]

1. Where are they getting this "critical but stable" tag?

The official term continues, in my understanding, to be "serious." The terms "serious" and "critical" are technical ones, in hospital lingo. Maybe a British paper doesn't know this?

[DonViejo]

3. Robb posted this ...

Undetermined
Patient is awaiting physician and/or assessment.

Good
Vital signs are stable and within normal limits. Patient is conscious and comfortable. Indicators are excellent.

Fair
Vital signs are stable and within normal limits. Patient is conscious, but may be uncomfortable. Indicators are favorable.

Serious
Vital signs may be unstable and not within normal limits. Patient is acutely ill. Indicators are questionable.

Critical
Vital signs are unstable and not within normal limits. Patient may be unconscious. Indicators are unfavorable.

http://www.democraticunderground.com/1014462317#post1

[DonViejo]

2. The FBI disagrees about his condition...

http://www.democraticunderground.com/1014462317