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Airman Loses Legs in Botched Gallbladder Surgery, Future of Career Uncertain
Fox News ^ | 7-20-09

Posted on 07/20/2009 9:08:36 AM PDT by rawhide

A Texas Airman stationed at an Air Force Base near Sacramento, Calif. has lost both legs after surgeons reportedly botched a routine surgery to remove his gallbladder.

Colton Read, 20, underwent laproscopic surgery last week at David Grant Medical Center at Travis Air Force Base near Sacramento. Laproscopic surgery is a minimally invasive procedure that involves making a tiny incision to minimize pain and speed recovery time.

About an hour into the surgery, something went wrong. Read's wife Jessica told CBS11TV.com.

"A nurse runs out, 'we need blood now' and she rounds the corner and my gut feelings is 'oh my God, is that my husband?'" Jessica Read said. Read's wife said an Air Force general surgeon mistakenly cut her husband's aortic valve, which supplies blood to the heart, but waited hours to transport Colton Read to a state hospital with a vascular surgeon.

Read, who is still in intensive care, lost both legs as a result of the blood loss. Meanwhile, his gallbladder still has not been removed. Jessica Read said the doctor admitted his mistake, but under federal law the Reads cannot sue.

Jessica Read told FOX 40 she is appalled that the Air Force is even considering medical retirement or medical discharge while Airman Read is incapable of making any type of decision. She said he is not 100 percent lucid and is still heavily medicated.

(Excerpt) Read more at foxnews.com ...


TOPICS: Extended News; News/Current Events
KEYWORDS: airman; coltonread; legs; surgery
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To: vaudine

Coming to a hospital near you soon! Obamacare!!

I have a friend who had a botched surg in a military hospital. He sued and won—in the millions. Pain and suffering included.

It was also a “simple” gallbladder removal. They took out half of his liver “by mistake”. He had to get a liver transplant.

At least he is comfortable in his old age.

This young fellow may never see his old age!


81 posted on 07/20/2009 11:58:48 AM PDT by Palladin (First, kill all the Teleprompters!)
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To: EggsAckley
“......under federal law the Reads cannot sue”

Coming soon to a hospital near you!

82 posted on 07/20/2009 12:01:31 PM PDT by Republic of Texas (Socialism Always Fails)
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To: Seruzawa
You're wise. The internet is also a very valuable tool. Try curezone.com

I'm real big on Vit C and castor oil packs. I'm 71 never go to the doctor and take no drugs and won't unless there's no other way out.

I've seen the damage of drugs.

83 posted on 07/20/2009 12:08:34 PM PDT by Conservativegreatgrandma (Al Franken--the face of the third-party voters)
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To: Old Professer

Yeah. Similar thing happened to one of my uncles. They saved his life, but he’s lost control of his legs due to nerve damage.


84 posted on 07/20/2009 12:11:42 PM PDT by null and void (We are now in day 181 of our national holiday from reality. - He really isn't one of US.)
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To: armymarinemom

I think he cut his abdominal aorta.


85 posted on 07/20/2009 12:18:27 PM PDT by LucyJo ("...guard against the impostures of pretended patriotism...". George Washington)
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To: the long march

And, this young man still has his gallbladder. They can’t take it out because of his condition. They are afraid of infection.


86 posted on 07/20/2009 12:26:48 PM PDT by LucyJo ("...guard against the impostures of pretended patriotism...". George Washington)
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To: LucyJo

Exactly.


87 posted on 07/20/2009 12:40:20 PM PDT by the long march
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To: null and void

And Sara, raised under Navy health care. :(

Don’t let BamBam do it to us!


88 posted on 07/20/2009 1:01:53 PM PDT by SaraJohnson
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To: sten

gall bladder problems are often related to high fat diets and obesity - both of which are very common in the US.


89 posted on 07/20/2009 2:29:59 PM PDT by srmorton (Choose life!)
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To: Hulka

PA’s are butter bars, and in some cases think they know more than the surgeons.


90 posted on 07/20/2009 2:48:51 PM PDT by 2CAVTrooper (For those who have had to fight for it, freedom has a flavor the protected shall never know.)
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To: Hulka

I understand what you did. I would have done the very same thing. For a doctor to screw up on something so simple, and then to take offense about it, tells me he is not qualified to be there. God bless the Korean nurse, she may have saved your life!


91 posted on 07/20/2009 3:24:37 PM PDT by rawhide
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To: 2CAVTrooper

Really. . .but I was responding to your post about a young inexperienced doctor, not a PA.

Thanks.


92 posted on 07/20/2009 3:47:06 PM PDT by Hulka
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To: rawhide

Yup. . .she is a good one!


93 posted on 07/20/2009 3:48:14 PM PDT by Hulka
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To: Shimmer1

My dad was a Navy Mustanger. My family went to Portsmouth Naval Hospital for my care as a child a number of times. It never worked out for me. Twenty years or so later, a LCDR delivered my daughter. He had been up for over fifty one hours when he started my wife’s C-Section. He did a flawless job. Luck of the draw.


94 posted on 07/20/2009 5:17:41 PM PDT by Nuc1 (NUC1 Sub pusher SSN 668 (Liberals Aren't Patriots))
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Does anyone know the name of the doctor involved? I have signed up for a gastric bypass, the doctors that do these are in the same clinic as the doctor who did the botched gall bladder operation. I really need to find the name of the doctor to make sure he is not the one doing my surgery.
95 posted on 07/22/2009 11:18:18 AM PDT by peggyk13
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To: peggyk13

A Dr. Pichakron, see:

http://www.coltonread.com/index.html


96 posted on 07/22/2009 11:42:45 PM PDT by iowamark (certified by Michael Steele as "ugly and incendiary")
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To: iowamark

I am speechless. That is the doctor that was assigned to my bypass group. I was told she is one of the “best” for the bypass surgeries. Oh my GOD! I feel so sorry for Airman Read.


97 posted on 07/23/2009 9:36:57 PM PDT by peggyk13
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To: peggyk13

Thank God that you were warned! It is too bad that Airman Read had to suffer.


98 posted on 07/23/2009 9:55:19 PM PDT by iowamark (certified by Michael Steele as "ugly and incendiary")
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To: q_an_a

Travis is about half way between Oakland and Sacramento.

Not 90 miles from either one.


99 posted on 07/27/2009 7:33:27 PM PDT by Syncro
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To: rawhide; All

Here is a website of the family of this Airman, with an update

http://www.coltonread.com/coltons-story.html


100 posted on 07/27/2009 7:37:11 PM PDT by Syncro
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