Soldier Suffers From Doctor’s Mistake
by admin on Jul.22, 2009, under Support Our Soldiers
Jessica and Colton Read
When we go to the doctor, we place our utmost trust in them. We expect them to try their best to help with whatever problem it is that brought us to their service. So when a doctor ends up causing even more damage than the original diagnosis, our trust is severely shaken.
Such is the case with Colton Read. He was scheduled for surgery at David Grant Medical Center at Travis Air Force Base for a routine operation – he needed to have his gall-bladder removed. But what should have been a routine surgery turned into a nightmare when the surgeon cut his aortic artery.
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.” (source)
Due to the surgeon’s negligence, the tremendous loss of blood resulted in him losing both legs.
His mother sobbed, “I watched him take his first steps, and now his legs are gone.”
Despite the fact that this entire tragedy rest solely on the military surgeon’s shoulder, the family is unable to sue for damages. Why?? Because of on old federal law called the Feres Doctrine. Leave it to the government to protect themselves from their own mistakes. This is what is called an “outrage”. This man served country, and when they screw up this horrifically, they do nothing to help him.
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.”
It’s not right. And the kicker? He still hasn’t gotten the gall-bladder removed.
