Justice Ginsburg Hospitalized After Feeling Faint

Sept. 24, 2009 — -- U.S. Supreme Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg is spending the night at a Washington, D.C. hospital "as a precautionary measure" after reporting feeling faint in her chambers earlier today, according to official court statements.

The 76-year-old justice was being examined at the Washington Hospital Center for symptoms that can develop after iron sucrose infusions, treatment Ginsburg has been receiving for anemia, a court spokeswoman said.

At 4:50 p.m., about an hour after receiving such an infusion, Ginsburg "felt faint, developed light headedness and fatigue," court spokeswoman Kathy Arberg said in a written statement.

Ginsburg received medical assistance from the Office of the Attending Physician, which found she had "slightly low blood pressure, which can occur following" the infusions, Arberg wrote.

After further tests, Arberg added, Ginsburg was found to be in "stable health" but was taken as a precaution for evaluation at the hospital at approximately 7:45 p.m.

Ginsburg has had other health scares since being appointed to the court by President Clinton in 1993.

In September 1999, she was operated on for colon cancer.

On Feb. 5, 2009, Ginsburg underwent surgery related to pancreatic cancer and later received chemotherapy.