Your Voice: Military Malpractice Case

CBS News Viewers React To The Haunting Story Of One Marine's Misdiagnosed Cancer

(CBS)  Byron Pitts brought us Thursday the unforgettable story of Marine Sgt. Carmelo Rodriguez, a 29-year-old Iraq war veteran who died of melanoma, which was misdiagnosed by a military doctor.

The response we received online was overwhelming, including more than 500 comments on our website, and scores of e-mails.

Among them:

"We as Americans have a responsibility to do something about this. If not, we are as guilty as the military."

"As a mother of a Army soldier, I am saddened and disgusted by this story. Most of all, I am outraged that he was not given a military funeral--that the family had to pay."

For more responses, see below.

What You Can Do

Let your representative in Washington know how you feel about the Feres Doctrine. Contact your senator here or contact your representative here.

The group Veterans Equal Rights Protection Agency, which tracks soldiers who are misdiagnosed, says there are hundreds of misdiagnosed cases across the country. Find out how to contact VERPA here.

If you'd like to offer support for the family of Sgt. Carmelo Rodriguez, please click here to e-mail the CBS Evening News and we will profide information about their fund.

And you can always join our online community and comment on Byron Pitts story here, or on his blog post at Couric & Co. blog.

More Reporting On Soldiers And Veterans

The CBS News investigative unit has reported extensively on veteran health care in America. Read the stories or click here for more information.

Soldier Suicide Attempts Skyrocket

Suicide Epidemic Among Veterans

Congress Vows Action On Vets Suicides

VA Struggles With Vet Mental Health

Stressed-out Soldiers

What Readers Had To Say

We should be OUTRAGED! This story made be severely ill. Not only to see such a honorable young man dying but that I am part of a society that doesn''t demand better for our military and our human race. Every one of us should stand up and scream to have this situation looked at and someone held accountable for their actions.
Posted by kelmona at 08:32 AM : Feb 01, 2008

We as Americans, have a responsibilty to do something about this. If not, we are as guilty as the military…talk to our congressmen, and talk to other people. It my be our sons the next time.
Posted by m45066 at 07:13 AM : Feb 01, 2008

This story hit home with me, as the Feres Doctrine not only affects the men and women in the military, but their dependant families as well. I feel that the medical staff in the military should be held to the same standards as public and private institutions.
Debbie

I hope your heart wrenching story will draw the attention this injustice needs to affect change.
Assemblywoman Debbie Smith, Assembly District 30, Nevada

It hurt my heart to see the article on SGT Rodriguez. I too served in the military and retired from the United States Army 2 years ago. The law needs to be changed!!
Posted by bullskating at 12:33 PM : Feb 01, 2008

I could not beleive what i saw while watching this segment, it made me want to cry and im a tough dude but not tougher than sgt. Rodriguez...i myself am a member of the U.S. military and im floored...God Bless his family...all prayers go to them.
Posted by stanleydrl at 07:45 PM : Jan 31, 2008

I AM OUTRAGED!! Such a beautiful man reduced to skin & bones, I could hardly contain it when they showed him seconds away from death with his son holding his hand. HOW CAN this be allowed to happen to OUR soldiers?? OUR AMERICAN SOLDIERS??!!!
Posted by PrettyMetal at 11:28 AM : Feb 01, 2008

Words can never express the emotions we feel at times like this. I was so moved by this story. I am about to explode about of my body. I am horrified, absolutely horrified. I am so angry at our nation and their inept medical care for those that sacrifice.
Posted by Molly828 at 06:58 PM : Jan 31, 2008

Let''s hope the govt learns a lesson from Carmelo Rodriguez, and that his life and death not be forgotten.
Posted by rosieroon at 11:29 PM : Jan 31, 2008

I am heartbroken. Almost literally heartbroken and outraged and in tears by the story of Carmello Rodriguez and the other young man profiled in the story. Our government and military should be ashamed for this and other stories like this of the men and women who protect this country,
Posted by DS9Sisko at 06:56 PM : Jan 31, 2008

Be proud of your son who wanted his tragic medical malpractice story told, and of yourselves for telling it! The people need to know and to be outraged with you. We grieve with you as well.
Posted by dvb0708 at 07:06 PM : Jan 31, 2008

[homefront22]

My heart is struck once again by yet another lost soldier due to Military malpractice. It also hit home very close. It took our family over three years to finally find out what was wrong with my husband. Lots of time lost and now he has to fight for his health every day. And of course it was not the military that determined what is going on (although we were blessed with some very good military doctors in the end who were not afraid of pioneer actions) but a civilian doctor who didn't see my husband identified by his last four ssn digits but a man, a patient who suffers severly. His TBI and infections within his body were first diagnosed as MS, he was mistreated and things got worse...now that we know what we are truely facing his recovery process is uncertain and very, very slow.
I know in my heart that many men and women have been medically retired with false diagnosis, or died - I just know! Question is what else can we do other then telling our congressmen-/women for they also seem to work slow. Fact is we have hundreds and thousands of service personnel who are suffering right this minute and they do NOT receive the treatments they deserve for what they have given to us. All of them paid a high price and yes, the military/government has the absolute duty to treat all of them correctly and with the upmost respect! I am open to fight the war on the home front, together we may able to change things around.

[margueritearmistead]

Thank you for the informative report, albeit a sad one. Did you know that 44 deaths and 5,329 adverse reactions have been reported to the FDA by soldiers receiving the anthrax vaccine? A recent GAO report states that 1-2% of servicemembers may die or become disabled from their vaccines, including the one from anthrax--that is a lot of people. Our military family advocacy group (Protecting Our Guardians) sees one tragedy after another, and yet no one has stopped the DoD's Anthrax Vaccine Immunization Program (AVIP). In the past, the Feres Doctrine has prevented these soldiers from winning their lawsuits against the anthrax vaccine manufacturer, Emergent BioSolutions (formerly BioPort). Repealing the Feres Doctrine is a must for thousands of soldiers severely impacted by the AVIP. Bless you for showing what military families are silently enduring.

[dshee2]

I received a call from my son just minutes after this story on the cbs news,he was very upset after watching this report. He served overseas during operation enduring freedom and he''s only 25 but this could of been him. He is no longer in the navy but when he returned home, he tried to get some services from the military doctors for counciling and he was told he would have to go on a waiting list for help. What is our government doing to our men and women who serve, nothing at all after risking their lives over there they just forget what they did for their country and treat them like a number. I no longer support what we are doing over there and I haven''t for sometime and seeing what this young man went through after being told he only had a wart, come on wake up and stop this war and the many lives that are being effected here at home and over there with our troops. Bring them home

[vchiesi]

My father died in September of 2006. He was a Vietnam Navy War Vet. He went to the Pittsburgh VA and had a heart cath done. They said his three arteries were blocked...one 90%+, one 80% and one 65-70%. They literally kicked him to the curb (that is where my sister had to pick him up) and said he could last six weeks until surgery. He died two weeks to the day later. He tried for two weeks to set up his surgery. They gave him the run-around. It cost him his life and my sisters and I are father.

[loudpipes3]

I think that what this fine young honorable man & soldier went through, ---- SUCKS!
What happened is awful!!! --- Dispicable, on our Governments part! --- I have no more words!!!

[jessdurk]

I am so disturbed by this story. Especially Carmello Rodriguez''s case. I am a Navy wife who has had melanoma. When I asked my Navy assigned doctor about a bump on my arm, he told me it was a bug bite. Nine months later when the bug bite was bigger he insisted it was nothing. I kept pushing because the bump itched like crazy. To appease me he finally referred me to a dermatologist who diagnosed me. I caught my melanoma early so I only lost a small chunk of arm and some lymph nodes. I keet thinking Carmelo''s story could have easily been mine. I cannot get his image out of my head. I will contact my senator and representative as recommended here. But I feel it is just not enough. I so desperately want to reach out to his family and let them know how his story has affected me. As a American, military wife, a melanoma survivor, and just a decent human being I feel I have to fight for this cause. As long as I live Carmello''s image will never leave me.

[jessdurk]

I am so disturbed by this story. Especially Carmello Rodriguez''s case. I am a Navy wife who has had melanoma. When I asked my Navy assigned doctor about a bump on my arm, he told me it was a bug bite. Nine months later when the bug bite was bigger he insisted it was nothing. I kept pushing because the bump itched like crazy. To appease me he finally referred me to a dermatologist who diagnosed me. I caught my melanoma early so I only lost a small chunk of arm and some lymph nodes. I kept thinking Carmelo''s story could have easily been mine. I cannot get his image out of my head. I will contact my senator and representative as recommended here. But I feel it is just not enough. I so desperately want to reach out to his family and let them know how his story has affected me. As a American, military wife, a melanoma survivor, and just a decent human being I feel I have to fight for this cause. As long as I live Carmello''s image will never leave me.

[jessdurk]

I am so disturbed by this story. Especially Carmello Rodriguez''s case. I am a Navy wife who has had melanoma. When I asked my Navy assigned doctor about a bump on my arm, he told me it was a bug bite. Nine months later when the bug bite was bigger he insisted it was nothing. I kept pushing because the bump itched like crazy. To appease me he finally referred me to a dermatologist who diagnosed me. I caught my melanoma early so I only lost a small chunk of arm and some lymph nodes. I kept thinking Carmelo''s story could have easily been mine. I cannot get his image out of my head. I will contact my senator and representative as recommended here. But I feel it is just not enough. I so desperately want to reach out to his family and let them know how his story has affected me. As a American, military wife, a melanoma survivor, and just a decent human being I feel I have to fight for this cause. As long as I live Carmello''s image will never leave me.

[jessdurk]

I am so disturbed by this story. Especially Carmello Rodriguez''s case. I am a Navy wife who has had melanoma. When I asked my Navy assigned doctor about a bump on my arm, he told me it was a bug bite. Nine months later when the bug bite was bigger he insisted it was nothing. I kept pushing because the bump itched like crazy. To appease me he finally referred me to a dermatologist who diagnosed me. I caught my melanoma early so I only lost a small chunk of arm and some lymph nodes. I kept thinking Carmelo''s story could have easily been mine. I cannot get his image out of my head. I will contact my senator and representative as recommended here. But I feel it is just not enough. I so desperately want to reach out to his family and let them know how his story has affected me. As a American, military wife, a melanoma survivor, and just a decent human being I feel I have to fight for this cause. As long as I live Carmello''s image will never leave me.

[proudja]

As a former US soldier, I hope you continue fighting for your son and grandson. It''s ashame Congress continue to let fighters for this Great Nation go without homes and without proper healthcare.

[snowball122]

This is a tragic loss.To learn more about the short comings of military health care see groups.yahoo.com/groups/mrgrg-ms

[okiefromalva]

When I was in the army (a long time ago) the saying about the military was "You play ball with us and we''ll shove the bat up your you-know-what." I guess things are pretty much the same now.

[swcoasty]

It is not fair to single out a few people from the military and veterans health system and make such a big story out of it. If you look real hard , I am sure that the same thing is going on in the civilian health care system as well. I am a disabled vet and if It wasen''t for the outstanding care that I have been given in by the VA that I wouldn''t be here now. I get the very best care that anybody could ask for thanks to the Togus VA in Augusta Maine. Sometimes it is unfortunate that some people fall through the cracks, rather they didn''t go through the right channels or somebody make a mistake in jugement but that is no sign that the whole system should be punished for it. After all these doctors and medics are still just people and make mistakes just like everybody else.

[rynall]

Having worked for the military for 20 years, I have some insight. Military doctors have always been looked at as less than ethical, reliable or intelligent. They are perceived as joining because they have no office overhead and don''t have to pay malpractice insurance. God bless this family. I have a son in the Marines who happened to know this member. I pray for all our military and for this family.

[boscoe62]

Dear Rodriguez Family,
My heart broke the night your story aired. I also lost my father (a WWII Prisoner-of-War for 463 days) to misdiagnosed cancer. My father did not get his benefits or purple heart for almost sixty years after he came home from the war. I was blessed to have had my father longer than Carmelo''s son. That child should receive 100% benefits for his father''s courage and the fighting he did for our country and for his own life. Carmelo gave his life for this country, the least our country could do is provide an education and insurance for his son.
I, too, will write letters to insist that the Feres Doctrine be thrown in the trash!! Our government should be ashamed of the way they treat the young men and women who risk everything to provide freedom for those of us at home. Instead of giving raises in Washington we need to support our troops!!!
May God bless your family. You are in my prayers.
Boscoe62

[sunset10000]

Demoralizing our docs is the admist of already poor job satisfaction and them looking at other career options is not right. They do the best they can but we don''t live in a perfect world. What happened is certainly unfortunate and I feel for the family.

But, also consider what happens to docs serving in the field and who have to triage numerous patients. Opening them up to an already lawsuit triggered society would make their jobs very difficult and not worth the already high lawsuit risks.

[maygodbless]

TO THE RODRIGUEZ FAMILY: I just want you to know that Carmelo is with JESUS. My heart goes out to you and your family. May God Bless the son of this Great Marine. Since I have seen this story on CBS my heart is heavy. What a hansome and blessed Man. I have contacted Senator Obama''s office on this issue and I have requested that they watch this story. May God Bless you and my heart and prayers are with you. :-)

[twotiger-2009]

They track down children and women abusers. Animal%u2019s abusers are also dealt with when discovered. We have discovered a GREAT ABUSER. Society has honed and focused itself to deal with these gross crimes against mankind and animals. It is evident that the Washington DC infrastructure lends itself to attract people who are TRULY insensitive to abuses of people and animals. They think that they are above the law and expect the rest of society to follow laws they don''t have to. Is it time for the American people to let them know they are not above the laws of humanity? People make the government; make the people in Washington be responsible.

A minimal financial solution would be to have the American people place into law that everyone (without exception) in Washington DC or state politics, including lobbyists, and their families must have their health issues checked out by the Veteran''s Hospital doctors. Having personal doctors or services from outside Veteran''s hospital or labs should be "out of plan" and must require personal financial obligations.

It seems that people in positions of responsibilities can%u2019t be depended on for some things. Perhaps petitions and referendums are in order.

A side benefit to passing such a law might produce mass exiting of lobbyists (there are more lobbyists than legislators) and somewhat diminishing number of earmarks.

[kylw48]

My Sympathy goes to the the Sgt.''s Family. My Little Brother is a Marine and im a former MisDiagnosed Air Force member. This Deeply saddens me. Words cant explain the way this makes me feel but also makes me wonder if any of the canidates running for presidency will even make an issue of this? it has been goning on for so long its just ashame that it took the life of such a young full of life man for truth to finally see the light!

[js7062]

As a Mother of a son that is severing second tour of
Iraq I was so outraged to see that this young men death was not honored or repected the way it should of been. After all I did put his life on the line for all of us to have all the freedom and he did it with HONOR how could the Government do this to him, and his family. He is a Hero God Bless you Sgt. Carmelo Rodriguez.