Forum: Air Force Life

Forum Veteran Joined: Dec 15, 2006 - 12:28 AM Posts: 760

Career of Airman Who Lost Legs in Botched Surgery Uncertain, Air Force Says

SACRAMENTO, Calif. — A United States Air Force major general says the career of a 20-year-old airman who lost his legs in a reportedly botched gallbladder surgery is uncertain, FOX40 Sacramento reports.

Colton Read remains in intensive care at the UC Davis Medical Center in Sacramento after a doctor performing laproscopic surgery accidentally severed the aortic artery that delivers blood to the lower portion of the body.

Full story.
http://www.foxnews.com/story/0,2933,534 ... latestnews

So sad. Hope they can find him (let/give him an opportunity) a way to serve with respect and dignity if possible.

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I saw this last week and was shocked. Keep in mind, any military personnel cannot sue military doctors for malpractice and this Airman is basically left with a "sorry" and a early retirement that pays considerably less than what he is probably making now. I really think if he wants to stay in, the Air Force needs to figure out a way to keep him around.

Anyone know what happened to that Airman at Lackland that was diagnosed with Leukemia and the Air Force was trying to boot him?

Yep, after I got butchered by an AF Major, I made a decision to not go to a doctor I can't sue. Also in my experience the VA sucks too.

I always tried to steer clear of the medical hobby shop. I called the VA once for an appointment, this was July, they could squeeze me in around Oct. I hung up.

Here is the difference between Air Force Operations, and the "Nonners".

For example: If I improperly restrained my cargo, and it shifted in flight, and caused damage, or the destruction of the aircraft, or God forbid, killed a passenger...and I lived to receive the @$$-chewing (which would most certainly follow), I can guaran-damn-tee you that I'd be FEB'd, and I'd lose my wings. A fast ticket out of the Air Force, or worse, to Ft. Leavenworth, would likely be not far behind.

However, in the Med Corps, these @$$ clowns can do something like this to the kid, and it will be handled very privately. The Doc might even be allowed to stay in after the investigation. If not, he'll be working at a downtown hospital near you before you can say "Jack Rabbit".

I really feel bad for this kid. This sucks, especially because he wants to be in the AF, and his career could be taken from him over someone else's Eff-up.

I hope he can be fitted for prosthetics and allowed to continue, if this is what he really wants. Several years ago, there were 2 incidents which could work in his favor:

1. A Navy helo pilot lost a leg in a helo mishap in Italy. He was fitted for a prosthetic and returned to flying status with the active duty USN.

2. Around 95 or 96, there was an Army SFC who jumped for the Golden Knights. He collided with a teammate during practice. Unfortunately, his partner was killed, but he survived with both of his legs lost during the collision. He was fitted with prosthetics and was able to return, not only to active duty, but one more season with the Golden Knights.

Re: The Airman with Leukemia, I do believe he was discharged with no VA medical benefits. Another hatchet job, IMHO.

sucks that it happened. i remember all those dental appointments were i had some new kid performing my cleaning as part of their upgrade training. im not to fond of the va either. the va by my place looks like it was built a hundred years ago an the service there is horrable. sat in the er with a bleedin oozing infected toe for 5 hours, an there was nobody else in the place. shoot when i was getting out the dr who performed my physical didnt document the fact feet were now flat an i had persistent back pain.

When I was at Holloman the 8th FS had a pilot with a limp so bad I'm surprised he could walk. I was told he was one of the few people to punch out of an F-111 and lived to tell the story. Given the source of that info I'm not real sure how true that was, but something happened and he was still flyin'.

Sucks about the kid with Leukemia, the Air Force can be pretty jacked up at times. That was confirmed though, he was discharged without benefits based on the Leukemia was a pre-existing condition.

Not sure what will happen to the Airman who had his legs amputated. Just think, people want health care nationalized; if only they saw how the VA and the military takes care of their patients.

Just for your all info, military docs go through the same medical schools, and same residencies, and have to meet the same stringent requirements as civilian doctors.
In no way, at all, am I defending this moron of a surgeon, and I hope that the AF throws the book at him. But, remember, scary crap like this happens all over, even more so in the civilian world.

Very true. At least there, however, you can sue. I know that's no consolation for having your life and career ruined, but the military doesn't have the legal option...at least not yet anyway.

I am so sick and tired of stories like this, seen them all too often, been part of it myself - makes me want to beat the sh*t out of certain folks...cant say more without medication, I hate this kind of sh*t and they get away with it - that really burns my a$$..SOB's

So what does everyone think should happen to this doctor who made a mistake?

I think he should go through a period of retraining (re-validate procedures, reduced in rank as well) and the young man should be given a cash settlement even though I know that is Not the government way, I never liked the fact the government had a no accountability card that could be used if and when they screwed up and it happens more often than many are aware. Yes, accidents happen but to get away with it under the "cover of the government" is pure BS in my book.

If any mechanic scews up in aviation, we all know there is hell to pay, but in a case like this, "sorry" does not handle it nor should it, there needs to be compensation...big time - that's my simple take on it...accountability goes both ways or at least it should but of course...it wont - the VA system is broken bad, far too many cases of abuse, malpractice and records that are lost (mine included)..there is no excuse for such events...none

The VA and the military are two totally different organizations. The military does not not do kindly to docs who screw up this bad. She will be put through the ringer, but no reduction in rank, as Captain is as low as you can go as a doctor.
The only good experience I ever had with the VA was with my Grandfather who died at the VA in Kansas City. They were wonderful and very helpful.
There is a web site for the airman who lost his legs.
www.coltonread.com

I think They should throw there @$$ in Leavenworth. According to the Fox story on it if they would have gotten him to the surgen downt town he never would have lost his legs they had six hours to do so. And yet they took 8 hours to get him there sound's like Nonners trying to Cover Nonner @$$. If I would have accidentally snipped a Hydrolic line on my bird and not done something right then and there to fix it or tell the Sup well we all know how $hit rolls down hill. But the Wife (couse she is a CIV) Can Sue the Hospitial just like when TRICARE got there computer's stolen ACTIVE duty could do nothing but put a froud alert out But Your Family(as long as they were CIV) and or spouse could Sue them to the wall. the only time they cant sue is when it is a combat related injury or Death. but it would probley cost more to Sue the GOVT than it's worth And I wish them luck and my hopes are with them and I hope they do find a job for him and keep him.

Forum: Air Force Life

Career of Airman Who Lost Legs in Botched Surgery "Unce