Military Medical Mistake Disfigures Local Airman

CBS11 Dallas/Ft Worth ^ | 17 July 2009 | Jack Fink

[edpc]

Jessica Read is still stunned about what happened to her husband. "It's very hard for us to understand."

Last week, 20-year-old Colton Read, who grew up in Arlington and who's now in the U. S. Air Force, went to have laparoscopic surgery to remove his gall-bladder at David Grant Medical Center at Travis Air Force Base near Sacramento.

His mother, Shelly Read-Miller says he wasn't worried. "He said 'Mom, this is routine, it's no big deal.'"

But what happened during surgery turned out to be a very big deal.

Jessica Read says around 10 a.m., about an hour into the procedure, "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?'"

She says his Air Force general surgeon mistakenly cut her husband's aortic artery, but waited hours to transport him to a state hospital which has a vascular surgeon. "It took them until 5:30 to get him to UC Davis. I don't understand."

Because Read lost so much blood during that time, doctors had to amputate both legs. His mother sobbed, "I watched him take his first steps, and now his legs are gone."

[edpc]

Unbelievable. Sadly, likely commonplace under Obamacare.

[GAB-1955]

I don’t know what’s going to happen, but why does this Airman need to be discharged? He’s in Intelligence. If he is discharged, he should be given full pay.

I suspect that right now a full hospital review is going on. Hospitals do have internal audits of botched cases, and when someone can be blamed, there might be an Article 15 or so coming up. For an officer, that’s a death sentence for a military career.

[edpc]

The story kind of says what will occur......

But because of an old federal law called the Feres Doctrine, Read, his wife, and his family members can't sue the military over what happened to him.

A bill is pending in congress that would end this law.

For now, Read's wife says the military may place him on medical retirement, in which he'll likely receive less than half his $1600 monthly salary. "I can't understand why they won't help him when they did this to him."

If they set up a fund for him, I'm sending whatever I can.

[Kolokotronis]

“Sadly, likely commonplace under Obamacare.”

No, sadly, traditionally so common in the military/VA health care system that neither the service member nor his family can recover one penny for the malpractice. Its a restriction so many around here want to see throughout our entire medical system.

[aft_lizard]

First this sucks for the Airman. However he will get a lot more than just medical retirement pay. But I think he will receive more than 50% because of the nature of his disability. He will also more than likely receive 100% from the va and perhaps special compensation. He will probably receive more in compensation from disability benefits if he was a civilian at a regular hospital and sued for compensation.

[edpc]

I’ve worked in the healthcare field for many years and seen some of the VA hospitals in my travels. Some are better than others, but on the whole, the care is substandard and the red tape is a nightmare. This is what’s coming under a government health plan. I noticed Glenn Beck covered it and made the comparison on his TV show this afternoon.

[aft_lizard]

Also forgot to mention he will likely also receive SSA Disability as well. So he can possibly see being compensated at 4k+ a month.

[ak267]

Hey no need to worry. That officer who botched the job can always get a job in ObamaCare !!!!! In Obama’s eyes, the surgeon should of “finished the job”.

Dead people = less money to be spent !!!!!

[Scrambler Bob]

Yes, you and others of like mind (and heart) can be a real blessing.

Sad that BO’s health plan would outlaw private funding of doctor care.

WORSE than SAD — It's evil (expletives appropriate, but not included).

[Wingy]

No, sadly, traditionally so common in the military/VA health care system that neither the service member nor his family can recover one penny for the malpractice. Its a restriction so many around here want to see throughout our entire medical system.

Well, as one that's 'around here' several times a day, I'll tell you that I don't want to do away with torts for malpractice, but bring it back to earth with a loser pays provision and maybe a generous cap. Just to keep those that think feeling bad in a hospital is reason to go to court and see if they can hit the lottery with a random jury. Cases like this one should be a red flag for anyone that wants to get rid of the right to sue period.

The courts should be open for suits of real malpractice, but if you were on the jury, what would you award? Full pay plus 50%? $20,000,000? $2,000,000,000? That's the problem with the tort system as it is now.

That this guy doesn't have a right to sue is just wrong.

[IronJack]

Just a quibble, but there is no such thing as an “aortic artery.” The aorta is, by definition, an artery.

[org.whodat]

Using this military mans suffering for a cheap political statement says much about you. Have you no shame.

[Jack Hammer]

Good catch.

[edpc]

Really? What does post three say about me, then? Take your indignant crap elsewhere.

[charmedone]

“Also forgot to mention he will likely also receive SSA Disability as well. So he can possibly see being compensated at 4k+ a month.”

That will cover basic living in Bouse, Arizona, if you live in a trailer.

[iowamark]

Colton Read family website
"Update
07/20/2009 48 Comment(s)

Not good news for today.Colton's fever is 103.9 degrees.

It is not his blood, his sputum or his bile - that leaves the right leg, which means we may lose it to the hip.

He is in a catatonic state now and does not respond at all - no talking, no moving, just lies there while tears drip down his face. It is like shock, but the doctors are saying no. They ran a cat scan on his head and found no blood clots and "normal brain activity."

They are still concerned about his gall bladder, his liver and stomach. They can't do a contrast MRI because his kidneys are not strong enough to take the contrast. They are going to try an ultrasound prior to surgery in the morning. He is scheduled for 12 noon here to go in and evaluate and decide on the leg. Please pray. Without that thigh leg, there will be no hope for walking on prosthesis.

There is just nothing we can do to help him except take turns sitting with him and praying."

Also: http://www.coltonscourage.blogspot.com/

[edpc]

Thanks for finding that link and posting it.

[freekitty]

I don’t see where he has done that.