Comments on: "This Is A Tough One"

[dogandturtle]

You have got to be kidding me!! Wake up People!! This has been going on since the Vietnam War. We still have vets that are not be taken care of!! Not only are the vets not being taken care of, neither are their dependants. I am still dealing with the VA with a disease that was caused by Agent Orange. Our military NEED and DESERVE to be taken care of in a better way. This is not the end. It will continue

[charmsway]

I am so furious but not surprised. I was diagnosed with malignant melanoma May 2007. I am an x military wife and the doctors at the miltary clinic told me my mole was OK. I finally made it to a civillian doctor who told me I had stage 2 melanoma. I have witnessed other "bad" practices in military hospitals and also the loss of medical records. It became a habit for me to get copies of records at each visit. God Bless the Rodriguez family. You are in my prayers.

[yungin08]

I cannot believe what I just read, and that was 5 minutes ago because I''m still in shock. I don''t understand how you could mistake skin cancer for a wart! That is so ridiculous and absurd. Then to top it off the military is so sorry that they refused to pay for his burial! How cruel can you get?

[antlov]

Katie it''s about time that someone addressed these issues. It''s just unfortunate that this soldier had to lose his life. See I to am a veteran who also was involved in a medical malpractice case with the hospitals here at John Cochran Hospital and the military and the hospital are covering up there mistakes. I fell on some steps while in the military and started having seizures, but the Doctors called them blackouts when in fact I was having seizures. Then once home the Doctors here over medicated me with Dilantin and the level had gotten to high in my system in fact it had gotten over a thirty four and I started having side affects to this medication and I lost my job, and as of right now I am still fighting the government on this matter, but I was told that I too could not sue. The military Doctors as I have learned will reword your medical records to make it fit them.

[rwrightii]

What a very, very sad and tragic story this was. I can''t believe that the military didn''t try and do right by his family and atleast pay for his funeral. It seems to me like its time for the American people to voice their opinions here and say to our state congressmen that any and everyone who goes to war to protect our country has deserved the right to be treated better once they have returned home God forbid alive or dead. Shame on the doctor who misdiagnosed him in the first place, the military for everything they didn''t do for him and then all of the wrong done to him from that point forward leading to the end of his life.

[gigme20]

I think Mr. Rodriguez''s family or another military family with a medical malpractice case should consider filing a lawsuit against the government in order to get the case in front of the Supreme Court again.

The last major case concerning the Feres doctrine was heard in 1987 and the court voted 5-4 to uphold the doctrine. I think there''s a chance that the current court may overturn the old case if asked to do so. In the 1987 case,Justice Scalia wrote in his dissenting opinion that he would personally vote to overturn the Feres doctrine. Since, he''s still on the court now, I think he would be able to convince at least four justices to join him.

[dogandturtle]

You have got to be kidding me!! Its takes something like this to get people to talk to their Senators about the military and the care of our military. People, wake up!!! Look at our VA system. I am a dependant of Vietname veteran and am dealing with a disease as a result of Agent Orange. Not only am I being denied by the VA look at all of the veterans that has served our country and they are not being taken care of by our VA. My thoughts and prayers go to the family. It is all around us. Unfortunately!!!

[dogandturtle]

You have got to be kidding me!! Its takes something like this to get people to talk to their Senators about the military and the care of our military. People, wake up!!! Look at our VA system. I am a dependant of Vietname veteran and am dealing with a disease as a result of Agent Orange. Not only am I being denied by the VA look at all of the veterans that has served our country and they are not being taken care of by our VA. My thoughts and prayers go to the family. It is all around us. Unfortunately!!!

[maasiesmess]

I can''t believe that Carmelo Rodriguez first physical exam when they actually wrote "melanoma" on his chart that the examiner did not just simply tell this young man to seek medical attention outside the military immediately! What would be so hard about that? This fine young man and his family destroyed by one person who did not have a soul, conscience or heart. THEY will be accountable sometime in their life! I''m am too angry for words....

[dikicep9]

From one military family to another; our prayers are with you. Be strong for the memory of Carmelo and keep telling your story over and over again of a brillant life cut short due to neglect and disregard. Never give up and never give in.