Airman Lost Legs to Botched Surgery

(AP)  An airman lost parts of both legs and was in critical condition after routine gallbladder surgery at Travis Air Force Base went terribly wrong, his family said.

Airman 1st Class Colton Read was supposed to get his gallbladder removed laparoscopically - via a small incision - at Travis' David Grant Medical Center on July 9.

During the procedure, surgeons nicked or punctured an aorta, a large artery that carries blood from the heart throughout the body, according to his wife, Jessica Read. The surgeons repaired the breach enough to save his life, but the repair began leaking and disrupted the blood supply to his legs, she said.

Read was flown to UC Davis Medical Center in Sacramento, where doctors told the family that damage from the lack of blood required amputation. Family members say he's undergone 10 surgeries to remove dead tissue from his legs, leaving him without much of his right leg and the lower portion of his left.

And Read still hasn't had his gallbladder removed because of the surgery complications, relatives said.

Travis officials would not comment on specifics, only saying a "serious medical incident" occurred at the hospital. The case is under investigation by the base, a national hospital accrediting commission and the U.S. surgeon general.

[kennedy3904]

What has happened to those we have chosen to be leaders? Where has their integrity gone? In this case, EXACTLY who is responsible for ensuring that military officials make this extreme case a priority and do their best to make it right? I think we all know it's the responsibility of our Commander in Chief. There is no excuse for a leader's failure to lead. When our government becomes so "BIG" that it allows our leaders to hide behind a wall of bureaucracy then it's time to dismantle the wall and restore accountability. When our leaders fail our young men that have chosen to serve, they fail us all. Harry S. Truman kept a plaque on his desk that stated, "the buck stops here." We should rid ourselves of weak leaders, and demand the attitude of Truman. The treatment of this young man is a disgrace to America! Beware bureaucrats, your days in office are numbered, 2012 is coming!

[Medicdeluxe]

This is a shame, a young man has lost his mobility, and there are a few idiots who are more concerned with making jokes, than having compassion for someone who was serving his country. My heart goes out to his wife and immediate family. I retired from the Air Force, and served at Travis, and believe me when I say that the entire AF feels your pain (past, present, and future) I just pray that the AF does right, and takes care of Airman Read and his family. God bless, and stay strong

[rf35]

I am an Air Force member. I have been stationed in places where the health was provided by the military treatment facility (MTF) and others where most procedures were referred to civilian hospitals. I can tell you from my experience that the MTF always provided superior care compared to the civilian hospitals. My wife has had a few trips to the ER. In civilian ERs, we usually end up waiting hours for treatment...in the military hospitals, it's generally just a few minutes before she's in and being treated by a doctor or nurse. Of course mistakes will be made. Doctors are human. It?s tragic and a terrible burden on individuals and families when those mistakes cause serious harm. Same for civilian hospitals. The insurance industry in its current state seems to try to minimize medical mistakes by preventing patients form ever being treated in the first place. Don't know about you right wingnuts, but I?d rather be treated and run the risk of a mistake than not be seen at all.

[kennedy3904]

First of all, thank you for your service rf35! I appreciate your personal endorsement of MTFs, however, the rage that most of us are feeling after reading this story is not in trying to establish fault with the procedure but the lack of accountability by our government to address the many post-surgery issues that continue to create havoc for this family. Personally, I do question the quality of medical treatment this kid received but we'll let a jury make that determination at the appropriate time. You should spend less time trying to convince us as to the quality of military care and more time convincing members of the Air Force to have the integrity to do right for this young man.

[ibsteve2u]

Note the righties insistence that a national health care program will result in outcomes such as the one this article covers.

You see, righties know that bad outcomes never happen in the civilian health care system.

Didn't you?

[ibsteve2u]

Wonder where this particular surgeon got his or her degree...

[payasyougo]

"Travis officials would not comment on specifics, only saying a "serious medical incident" occurred at the hospital. The case is under investigation by the base, a national hospital accrediting commission and the U.S. surgeon general."
-----
Good thing they went public quickly otherwise the government playbook says to lose the medical records after any mistake.
Which is surprising since Military personnel cannot sue the government.

Anyone asked what legal corrective action will be available in the Pelosi/Obamacare? Oh that's right, only the tax revenue is worth their time right now.

[jsd330]

gramto I have been treated in both military and VA hospitals, And there is no difference, the procedures and red tape are the same at both.

[ToolMangler1]

Open question!!!!
Who pays for VA/Military health care, we as taxpayers or the insurance industry under Government rules???
Just give me knowledgeable info please. (not guesses or 'hear-say)

[credibility2]

And some continue to advocate that limits need to be placed on malpractice suits for medical malfeasance. These types of tragedies will worsen under a national health care plan. The doctors and hospitals that caused this need to be executed.

[aChangeOfIdeas]

I used to live near a military base (I am not military) and I've heard many stories about VA hospitals and the care our servicemen get and it is horrible. One guy in our town was paralyzed by routine surgery that wasn't even for anything life threatening! This is not an isolated case, but maybe if more of these stories get told then something will change. These men and women who fight for our country deserve far better.

[gramto8]

If you consider base hospitals and VA hospitals the same, you are absolutely an idiot. Nothing else in your note is needed to prove you are not and never have been in the military and probably never have even lived close to a base.

[aChangeOfIdeas]

gramto8: Yes, I lived in the same county as an army base, taught the army kids and knew a lot of their parents, and many of the teachers were army wives. The specific man I know of had surgery at a VA hospital about 2 1/2 hours away from the base. wow, sorry I didn't know that much detail was necessary (do you want references?) and no I didn't claim to be military in fact I said I am not. What I do know is that they deserve better medical care than what they get.

[govtguy]

This medical abomination on a US serviceman is more common than what the public realizes. It also further illustrates exactly why the government (including the Dept of Defense) will NOT allow its employees and service members to place lawsuits against it. This is also exactly why medical services at the VA are in such sad shape; no one is held accountable. A1C Read will ultimately be discharged with a Good Conduct record, then have to fight the rest of his life for disability compensation via the DoD and the VA, both of whom will deny any wrong-doing, and make it his fault that they screwed up. His family will suffer as well, especially in the total lack of assistance they will get from the Air Force and ultimately the VA. This is NOT an isolated case; happens almost daily and will continue to occur until the folks in Washington DC and the Pentagon decide to responsibily deal with the situation. Ever notice how someone has to die before anything happens? Hopefully it won't happen here, but you never can tell.

[jtdev1]

Well darn it! maybe he should have spent all his money on a private health insurance plan and went to the Cleveland Clinic, then if something went wrong he could sue them...

he wasn't forced into having to use the government hospital... It was his CHOICE...

[6591Hou]

jtdev1 July 22, 2009 3:22 PM EDT
Well darn it! maybe he should have spent all his money on a private health insurance plan and went to the Cleveland Clinic, then if something went wrong he could sue them...
he wasn't forced into having to use the government hospital... It was his CHOICE...
=============================
I hope that you're just trying to be sarcastic, because you're certainly not coming across as witty or funny.