- texastribune.org/texas-people/rick-perry/perrys-surgery-included-experimental-stem-cell-the/
- texastribune.org/texas-people/rick-perry/perrys-stem-cell-treatment-was-doctors-first-attem/
- texastribune.org/texas-people/rick-perry/perry-allies-lay-groundwork-tx-stem-cell-industry/
List date(s) this work was published or aired.
8/3/11 – 8/4/11
Provide a brief synopsis of the story or stories, including any significant findings.
The Texas Tribune broke this series of stories on Gov. Rick Perry’s controversial stem cell treatment — injected just weeks before he launched his presidential bid — and Perry’s relationship with the doctors and business leaders working to make the largely experimental therapy commonplace in Texas. The news — that Perry had the procedure performed secretly, that he used a doctor who had never before done it, and that he was working behind the scenes to bring the adult stem cell industry to Texas — made national headlines.
Explain types of documents, data or Internet resources used. Were FOI or public records act requests required? How did this affect the work?
The series required open records requests filed with the Texas Medical Board and a review of hundreds of pages of state legislative documents, as well as extensive searches into the Secretary of State and IRS filings of stem cell businesses cropping up statewide.
Explain types of human sources used.
The stories relied on extensive sourcing and private interviews with medical professionals close to the governor, officials inside the Texas Medical Board and a lengthy back-and-forth with the Houston doctor who performed the stem cell injection. The governor’s office was little help; they only confirmed the procedure had been performed after I learned of it.
Results:
The series raised seriously questions about Perry’s instincts and his personal and business relationships — not to mention his health — at a time when the Texas governor was surging to the front of presidential polls.
Follow-up (if any). Have you run a correction or clarification on the report or has anyone come forward to challenge its accuracy? If so, please explain.
None.
Advice to other journalists planning a similar story or project.
Be first. The doctor who performed Perry’s back stem cell injection was so caught off guard by my questioning that he simply answered everything — including confiding that he had never performed the controversial procedure before trying it out on the Texas governor.