Military Medical & Leadership Negligence in the News
SHE DIED IN EXCRUCIATING PAIN, INSTEAD OF BEING PROPERLY TREATED,’ SAYS SAILOR’S FATHER
Karen Jowers March 31, 2022·6 min read Seaman Danyelle Luckey “didn’t die in combat or any military operation. She died from gross negligence of the medical providers on the ship she served, the USS Ronald Reagan,” said her father, Derrick Luckey.
TRAGEDY AND INJUSTICE: THE HEARTBREAKING TRUTH ABOUT MILITARY MEDICAL MALPRACTICE
“The Supreme Court needs to go back and revisit Feres … Under Feres, the government can’t be sued for injuries that are ‘incident to service. ‘Incident to service’ is a soldier charging a hill who gets injured and then questions the order. But babies? Birth injuries? That’s not incident to service. Having your appendix rupture. That’s not incident to service.”
THIS STUDY SEEKS TO FIND OUT WHY RECRUITS GET INJURED AND WHAT CAN THE ARMY DO ABOUT IT
“OPAT is a battery of four physical performance tests that the Army has administered since 2017 to all candidates seeking to enter active to identify who is most likely to succeed in combat military occupational specialties. A new study looks to determine which recruits are more susceptible to injury and how to prevent injuries.”
NONCOMBAT INCIDENTS MAKE UP ONE-THIRD OF INJURIES IN IRAQ AND AFGHANISTAN, NEW STUDY SAYS
“More than a third of some 30,000 soldiers injured in Iraq and Afghanistan were hurt in noncombat incidents such as falls and vehicle crashes, a new study has found.
The study … found that more than 10 percent of troops killed in those conflicts died of noncombat injuries.”
MARINES NOW TREAT BOOT CAMP INJURIES INSTEAD OF DISMISSING THEM
“When the recruit staggered out of the Thunderdome pugil-stick arena, he had the early signs of concussion: glassy eyes, confusion, unsteadiness on his feet.
His face had been gashed by a smashing blow from his opponent … Not that long ago, the drill instructors might have ordered the woozy recruit back into line for another session. But times have changed at the Marine Corps Recruit Depot…”
IN MILITARY CARE, A PATTERN OF ERRORS BUT NOT SCRUTINY
Jessica Zeppa, five months pregnant, the wife of a soldier, showed up four times at Reynolds Army Community Hospital here in pain, weak, barely able to swallow and fighting a fever. The last time, she declared that she was not leaving until she could get warm.
Without reviewing her file, nurses sent her home anyway, with an appointment to see an oral surgeon to extract her wisdom teeth.
PARRIS ISLAND PURGATORY
“Justin Henderson shuffled off to boot camp ready for the 13 weeks of hell enlisted Marines must endure before earning the coveted eagle, globe and anchor.
The 18-year-old from Raleigh, N.C., joined the Corps with hopes of becoming a ground-pounding infantryman, but he caught pneumonia 13 days into recruit training. The illness left his lungs permanently scarred, torpedoing any chance of a military career.”
MARINE RECRUIT DIES ON PARRIS ISLAND
“Marine recruits train for one of the most dangerous jobs in the world, and sometimes that training takes a deadly toll. A recruit died yesterday while going through combat water survival training on Parris Island.”
HERE’S WHY TROOPS CAN’T SUE THE MILITARY FOR MEDICAL MALPRACTICE
“Joining the military comes with a certain understanding of risk to life and limb. But did you know that service members, or their families on their behalf, can’t always sue the military if they are injured, permanently disabled or killed because of negligence off the battlefield?”
SET ON FIRE BY A COLLEAGUE, THIS ARMY NURSE IS TAKING HER STORY TO CAPITOL HILL
“On Tuesday, lawmakers and experts came together on Capitol Hill to unpack the Feres Doctrine, a law that prevents service members and their families from seeking legal action against the military for injuries or other suffering caused by negligence.”
UNABLE TO SUE THE ARMY FOR MEDICAL MALPRACTICE, THIS RETIRED SOLDIER IS NOW FIGHTING THE VA
“Retired Sgt. 1st Class Barbara Ospina is partially paralyzed, in debilitating pain and confined to a wheelchair for almost all of her day. Her condition is the result of malpractice at the hands of hands of military medicine … but she is paying out of pocket for a caregiver … because the VA has denied her request for caregiver assistance. “
U.S. TROOPS COULD SOON BE ABLE TO SUE OVER MEDICAL BLUNDERS A MUST-PASS SPENDING BILL IN CONGRESS
“A must-pass spending bill in Congress would loosen the Feres doctrine, a bar to suing the government for injuries sustained on active duty. It is named for a heroic World War II paratrooper. “
MILLIONS OF DOLLARS IN MILITARY MALPRACTICE CLAIMS PILE UP AS PAYOUT PROCESS IS DELAYED
“Dozens of families are waiting for the chance to hold the military accountable for medical malpractice, two years after a law promised change.
But an ongoing Spotlight on America investigation discovered political red tape and government delays are blocking efforts.”
THE FORT BRAGG MURDERS
At least 44 Fort Bragg soldiers died stateside in 2020 — several of them were homicides. Families want answers. But the Army isn’t giving any
AIRMAN LOSES LEGS IN BOTCHED GALLBLADDER SURGERY, FUTURE OF CAREER UNCERTAIN
A Texas Airman stationed at an Air Force Base near Sacramento, Calif. has lost both legs after surgeons reportedly botched a routine surgery to remove his gallbladder.
AT LEAST 7 MARINE RECRUIT DEATHS REPORTED AT PARRIS ISLAND SINCE 2000. HERE’S HOW THEY DIED
The Friday death of a Marine recruit at Marine Corps Recruit Depot on Parris Island is tragic but not unprecedented.