Yet another sad story of an Airman this morning....
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.
Colton Read, 20, underwent laproscopic surgery last week at David Grant Medical Center at Travis Air Force Base near Sacramento. Laproscopic surgery is a minimally invasive procedure that involves making a tiny incision to minimize pain and speed recovery time.
About an hour into the surgery, something went wrong. Read's wife Jessica told CBS11TV.com.
"A nurse runs out, 'we need blood now' and she rounds the corner and my gut feelings is 'oh my God, is that my husband?'" Jessica Read said. Read's wife said an Air Force general surgeon mistakenly cut her husband's aortic valve, which supplies blood to the heart, but waited hours to transport Colton Read to a state hospital with a vascular surgeon.
Read, who is still in intensive care, lost both legs as a result of the blood loss. Meanwhile, his gallbladder still has not been removed. Jessica Read said the doctor admitted his mistake, but under federal law the Reads cannot sue.
The future of Colton Read's career is now uncertain, FOX 40 in Sacramento reported.
Jessica Read told FOX 40 she is appalled that the Air Force is even considering medical retirement or medical discharge while Airman Read is incapable of making any type of decision. She said he is not 100 percent lucid and is still heavily medicated.
The Air Force is conducting a review of the case using outside experts.
Monday, July 20, 2009
FOX News
22 comments:
I just don't have the words AM.
I am praying for him along with all of our Service Men and Women.
admiral...I feel as you do. speechless, except for my prayers.
Unbelievable.
Unbelievable.
Unreal. Just unreal.
Thanks for the comment Airman Mom! glad you like the pictures.
Mistakes happen to the best of doctors, but to wait hours before transporting him to a real hospital is unconceivable. Maybe they cant' sue, but they can raise enough stink with their congressman, state and federal, to have the doctors credentials and credibility inspected.
That is truly sad. A mistake is understandable, but not sending him on, is not.
airborne...terribly sad, scary and unnecessary!
julie...so very sad!
jordan..the apple did not fall far from the tree! you have your mom's creativity, without a doubt!
coffeypot...I received an e-mail from a reader, who stated the active duty member may not sue, but what prohibits the wife from a federal lawsuit??? I do hope some lawyers have contacted the family by now and are resolving this horrible wrong.
mari...truly, this story is sad on so many levels!
That's really sucky. I think "most" of the military doctors I had "fix" me over the years were pretty darn good at what they did...even the Major I swore at when I was brought into the ER in great pain. I told him I was sorry after the surgery.
They may not be able to sue, but the military does do investigations when people screw up...and this doctor's career may be ending soon.???
and it wasn't even in a combat zone. Think I'll avoid Travis AFB for awhile.
c-i...it truly is sucky to the nth degree! I've heard good and bad stories regarding military docs...but this is horrific!
a 'test case ' suit is in order...
C-CS
c-cs...I totally agree!
That's terrible and very sad! An unfortunate thing, arent' doctors trained over and over again not to make such life changing mistakes during surgeries?
Oh. My. GOD!!!
That is incredible! Unconscionable! Colossally pathetic! I am so mad about this story!
FL...truly, it is a disturbing story, so terribly sad!
What can you say to something like this? This surgeon should lose his license.
Praying for this family.
God Bless,
aam
This Airman is only 20 years old! So very sad!
aj...one would think! Thanks for stopping by!
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