Posted on 07/22/2009 11:49:56 PM PDT by iowamark
You don’t have a clue. Of course I am biased because I am one and and take it personally. The USAF is a big organization with a cross section of all of society. I have met physicians since I retired in private practice I wouldn’t take my dog to. Do you find bad docs in the USAF? Of course, just like the rest of the medical world. I also was a training doc at the David Grant Medical Center where this occurred. The quality of docs was excellent and for the most part they were all dedicated to the mission, to medical education and to their patients. I have no clue how this horrible incident occurred. There are residents and there are residents. I would not allow at least two surgical residents continue in training and was considered a hard ass. I can only assume this was a resident surgeon who should have never been given a knife. I can tell you there is always a moment when you have to let your resident go on his own and it involves pucker factor on both parts. When the incident report comes out we will all know more. I don’t make any excuses for the surgeon and I feel terrible about the airman. Its just not a good time for military folks to turn on their own.
That's all I need to read. In 28 years I had a USAF doctor tell me my son would die before he was 16 (for what turned out to be kidney stones), misdiagnose a heart attack and let my back pain linger for 11 years (with stellar advice like, "stand up straight").
That's just the beginning of my list. Never mind the two tier system of care where flyers and there families get access to the competent docs.
Now, I must say that you sound like one of those kind of docs. The kind that will tell a patient, "you don't have a clue" without a question. There are good docs in the USAF...they get out and leave those that can't get malpractice insurance to "practice" in the service.
28 years with the same doc? Gee you must have had an unusual career. I never stayed in one hospital for more than 4 years. BTW I wasn’t in flight medicine, and yes they did different care from non-rated airmen. Not better just different.
Reading comprehension troubles, too? I guess that is part of the malady.
Almost. lol We had pork BBQ catered in. ;)
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