Comments on: A Question Of Care: Military Malpractice?

One Marine Served His Country With Care. Was His Cancer Misdiagnosed, Leading To His Death?

[v3gc]

veteran speaking i sign a contract that says i will give up my life to fullfill my contract to my country , you would think uncle sam just might honor his part of the deal , sloppy medical work his unforgiveing, my family new sgt. dean patrick witt , some one dropped the ball , and now no one answers for it , no lawsuit /because of a law / change the law ,its time has come .

[garylong2u]

I am deeply sorry for the family of Sgt.Rodriques. This is not new. I have been waiting for 7 years for a decision on my malpractice case, from the VA (Omaha VA hospital). A young Intern falsified records on a procedure that was done in April, 2001. I have had no luck in having my records amended. I feel helpless in my attempt to correct this. Where do you turn for help????
Gary Long
Vietnam Combat Vet.

[linlee2]

Let Marine Sgt. Carmelo Rodriguez in.
Let in his death
hastened by injustice.
indifference. inhumanity.
Let in his last testimony,
this dancing uncle,
his eyes and bones
all that%u2019s left
at his death.
At his death, maybe trusting
that if only people know
they will act
justly, make a
difference, show their
humanity.
His last breath
a clear request.

[k9usafret]

This is an atrocity by the President of the United States of America, the Congress, and the Supreme Court. It is one of many being purpetrated on the service people of this country. They could change it but they won''t. I ask every man and woman in this country to realize that it is not just those serving in Iraq and Afghanistan, but those of the Vietnam and Korea wars, and WWII still alive who are being treated disgracefully.

This includes its military leaders. The General who sat on the panel discussion of Tricare, was worried more with the Army''s ability to buy equipment than the men and women killed, wounded, and disabled''s ability to pay for health insurance. We served with honor and dignity, while our leaders leave us with the ignominious legacy of suicide, crime, and poverty.

Only you the people can change this. Demand that our government afford those that serve to protect the Constitution of the United States the rights guaranteed by that document or one day there will be no patriots left to do so.

Kurt Priessman, MSgt, USAF (Ret)
Vietnam Vet Advocate

[taniapadua]

Carmelo was a hero at a early age. He was/is my cousin. We grew up together. He was a very humorous young man. He was as playful with the children as one could get. He was notorious for doing impersonations. He was quite good at it. However, what made him even more of a hero is a little known public fact. Carmelo lost both his parents by age 10. He was the man of the family at an early age. He pushed through these life events to become the great man that we all, and now you know. He chose to fight. He was stronger than you know. I think of him everyday, as I hope you will too. Please help rally for a cause. This should never happen to anyone. WE, and other military are indebted to this young man. Out of tragedy, let''s create CHANGE. This was my cousin, Sargeant Carmelo''s, dying wish. It is what HE wanted.

I love and miss you cousin
T.L.P.

[seethabhasi]

I think the military should look after the soldiers welfare and health. And i also think that all the military staffs should go for a full health screening every year to make sure they they are fine so that they can serve and protect the citizen. they should been taken care of becos they have put their life in jeopardy to protect and fight for the country. The soldiers and their immediate family members should be taken care by the forces. This is complete neglience.And if anyone for instance is diagnosed with a dickness. I think it is the doctors responsibility to explain what exactly it is and what are the treatment u have. Not just bluntly tell them about the sickness period.I hope this case will help the rest of them .

[rcburton1]

THE MILITARY HAD NO BUSINESS ACCEPTING RODRIQUEZ INTO THE MILITARY. THEY BROKE THEIR OWN RULES LETTING HIM IN THEREFORE THEY SHOULD BE HELD RESONSIBLE!THEY DON''T ACCEPT PEOPLE INTO THE SERVICES WITH T.B. MUCH LESS SOMEONE WITH A FATAL SKIN CANCER THAT WILL KILL HIM IF NOT TREATED. THE PEOPLE RESPONSIBLE SHOULD BE PROSECUTED SO THIS DOESN''T HAPPEN AGAIN. I''M NOT A BLEEDING HEART LIBERAL I WAS IN THE MILITARY AND SUPPORT THEM 90% OF THE TIME BUT THIS TIME THEY WERE CRIMINALLY NEGLIGENT. THE RODRIQUEZ FAMILY HAS A CASE!

[rcburton1]

The Rodriquez family has a case.

[karkey222]

I am not surprised, but I am disguised and outraged at what the military has done to the Rodriguez family.
Since the Civil War the military and the goverment has made it very, very difficult for our service man, woman and their families to get the proper care and help that they need.There are millions of stories of how the goverment has failed service people in medical care, and other needs. My heart and prays goes out to the Rodriguez Family.
If there is a followup Investigative Report on this, it should be on the many many years of the treatment of your service people when their are in need of help from the goverment. This kind of thing must stop and our service people must get the proper care they deserve!!! We owe them at least that!!!

[military01]

sunset10000 I realize your concerns as a doctor and understand that no one is perfect. However if you did listen to the story correctly, this was no little skin bump... it looked like an enlarged birthmark that was raised above the skin and discharging fluid. I don''t know who would claim this as a wart, but even researching online, if a wart is to discharge any type of fluid, it states to seek medical attention! So the main concern here is the obvious. MALPRACTICE for not telling the solider what was documented. Yes, one doctor did see and recognize what it truly was... but once that paper was filled out, it gets filed straight into the medical records. The problem is when he arrived at his new command in Iraq with his concerns no one reviewed the record to give him the proper treatment. instead, they chose to claim it as "a simple wart" and check on it later.