Posted on 02/22/2012 6:50:22 PM PST by HiTech RedNeck
The parents of a U.S. soldier who died from rabies after being bitten by a dog in Afghanistan are accusing the Army of “criminal negligence” in his death, the Army Times reported Wednesday.
(Excerpt) Read more at usnews.msnbc.msn.com ...
No further comment on my part.
rabiddoggieping
That is a reason to raise hell even though the soldier should not have the pet.
“The rabies treatment the troop got was outdated medication and stopped early.”
If that is indeed the case, how could it not be criminal negligence?
I'd rather take a NJP than die.
/johnny
Because the soldier didn't report his injury immediately to his chain.
Perhaps early treatment could have saved him, if he didn't hide the injury.
I'd have to see a whole lot more to make a decision about this one.
/johnny
Sounds a lot to me like he went to sick call first... and of course they in turn would have told his sergeant or whomever. This sounds like nit picking.
I read the article. Says he reported the bite to a veterinarian and made a written report. Was originally treated, but treatment discontinued because the medication was out of date. Died 8 months after the bite.
b)The soldier failed to report the injury to his immediate supervisor.
c) The soldier died of his willful actions in contravention of local regulations.
Doesn't seem like nitpicking to me.
Feel bad for him and his family, but he screwed up.
Treatment is a separate issue, which should be a non-issue, based on local regulations.
/johnny
“The military probe placed most of the blame on Shumaker and his command for ignoring general military orders, called General Order-1B, which forbids pets or mascots.”
Ridiculous. Of course troops will have pets and mascots—and have since the beginning of time.
And how did he die 8 months after the bite? Is rabies that slow to act? Didn’t he get treatment in the meantime?
Why was the medicine out of date?
Why wasn’t he given up to date medicine once that was acquired?
If it wasn’t obtained immediately, why not?
Of course, the official army investigation will absolve
everyone (or if necessary, place the entire blame on a low-level, expendable scapegoat...)
How soon did the supervisor learn of it anyhow? Unless the troop really went very much out of his way to keep it on the Q.T. (and what can you do on the Q.T. in Afghanistan anyway?) It was up to the supervisor then to be sure the troop got medication that worked if it could be had. There have surely been scads of rabid dog exposures in Afghanistan and none of them led to a case of human rabies, until this.
Mad dog 20/20.
A very long time ago, I was a Peace Corps Trainee scheduled to go to Afghanistan. Two of the dozens of shots we got were rabies shots. I remember them well because they were especially painful. We were told that the shots gave us an 80% chance of surviving rabies—just in case we couldn’t get to civilization in time for the normal treatment. We were also told that every disease known to man was endemic in Afghanistan.
They’re using the up to date medicine to treat soldiers who get bitten by Afghans.
Yup, rabies can be that slow. It will travel slowly up the nerves to the spinal cord then up to the brain before it kicks its nefarious work into high gear. There is little ill effect until that point except for slight burning or tingling sensations that are perceived as coming from the point of bite.
The modern treatment is similar to the original (revolutionary in its day) Pasteur treatment but involves gamma globulin as well now. Instead of in the belly, the injections are in the rump.
It would be ghastly to die of rabies.
I can tell you've never herded cats. Or airmen. Or soldiers.
They do lots of stuff they try to hide.
In every part of the globe, garrison, and field.
Separate the medical issue, which is an issue, from the failure to follow orders issue that led to the death of a soldier.
/johnny
I can herd cats perfectly well. All it takes is a can of salmon.
Beyond gruesome. A death I wouldn’t wish on anyone.
From full story:
"After he was bitten, Shumaker told his parents by phone and online messages that he had been given a partial sequence of rabies shots that was stopped because the medication was expired. He also told them he was ordered to shoot the dog and bring it in for rabies testing."
"It appears this may not have been true. The investigation found no evidence that Shumaker sought or received the care he described to his parents, that he was ordered to shoot a dog or that one was tested for rabies."
"A blood test after his condition was detected found no rabies antibodies in his system, and there was no human rabies vaccine available or called forward to COP Chamkani, the report states."
In other words, the kid lied about receiving treatment, told no one in his COC, and now Mom blames the Army.
Just effing A typical!
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