Rep. John Murtha dies after surgery complications (Malpractice)

CNN ^ | 2-8-10

[My Favorite Headache]

CNN) -- Rep. John Murtha of Pennsylvania, a longtime fixture on the House subcommittee that oversees Pentagon spending, died after complications from gallbladder surgery, according to his office. He was 77.

The Democratic congressman recently underwent scheduled laparoscopic surgery at National Naval Medical Center in Bethesda, Maryland, to remove his gallbladder. The procedure was "routine minimally invasive surgery," but doctors "hit his intestines," a source close to the late congressman told CNN.

[svcw]

Of course it happens. And it is tragic. But you are made aware of the risks, and 2% is just not that high. But when it happens to you or a loved one it is 100%.

[Ben Chad]

Intestate estate

[shibumi]

If you stand by the river long enough, the body of your enemy will float by.

[JoeProBono]

[Sarajevo]

Hey Murtha, how’s that government healthcare?

[FormerACLUmember]

I will be kind today.

Semper Fi, John.

His manner of death is not without astonishing irony, which the State Run Media will like CNN will totally cover up.

[Mila]

"He never came out of the anesthetic after his gall bladder operation."

Pulmonary embolism

[Jimmy Valentine]

Laproscopic surgery to remove a gall bladder is almost as routine as it gets these days. To nick a guys colon and give him peretonitis means that a garage mechanic operated on the guy.

If you want to see the future under government health care, take a close look at this incident.

[Slings and Arrows]

Jewish tradition demands that we only say good about the dead, so...

He’s dead. Good.

[the OlLine Rebel]

I’d say Ginsburg, but she’s just on SCOTUS, not legislative.

[Archie Bunker on steroids]

I think that would count

[Salamander]

Ban pit surgeons.

[Salamander]

When my family went to see that in the local theater, just about *everyone* was rooting for hillbillies.

No apologies.

[Slings and Arrows]

You win!

[ctdonath2]

Favorite line: “statistics mean nothing when they happen to YOU.”

[ctdonath2]

Yup. Happened to me. “Routine” gallbladder removal turned into 3 weeks hospitalization (including 2 weeks of deliberate starvation). Two incisions wouldn’t stop bleeding. So much for “2% risk”.

[svcw]

Sorry about that. Unfortunately when you are part of the 2% that's 100% for you.