Law prevents some family members from suing the military. Your thoughts?

Sgt Aaron Kennedy, MS — Thu, 09 Jul 2015 11:07:18 -0400

http://www.militarytimes.com/story/military/benefits/health-care/2015/07/05/feres-doctrine-military-service-women-children/29570329/

Popped across my feed, and shared for your thoughts.

Law prevents some family members from suing the military

Army Spec. January Ritchie was pregnant and serving at Fort Shafter, Hawaii, in 2006 when doctors advised her to limit physical activity or risk

Response by SGT Bryon Sergent made Jul 9 at 2015 11:18 AM

SGT Bryon Sergent — Thu, 09 Jul 2015 11:18:00 -0400

Well in the cases of gross negligence or Medical Malpractice I think the the government should be able to be sued. What keeps the Military Doctors in check. Do they not take the Same oath as civilian Dr's? So we are basically the guinea pig's for cruel and unusual experiments or the total incompetence period!

Response by LTC John Shaw made Jul 9 at 2015 11:24 AM

LTC John Shaw — Thu, 09 Jul 2015 11:24:51 -0400

Sgt Aaron Kennedy, MS SGT Bryon Sergent I am sure that no military medical personnel deliberately mean to act to harm someone. The lack of accountability may mean that the military will continue some risky medical practices w/o regard to liability.
I would love to hear from someone who works in Army/military medical.

Response by PO3 David Fries made Jul 9 at 2015 12:36 PM

PO3 David Fries — Thu, 09 Jul 2015 12:36:54 -0400

I know that the doctors that came out of the military medical school in Bethesda (of which my brain is not allowing me to remember the name of at the moment) took the Hippocratic Oath. My oath as a Corpsman wasn't dissimilar. However, medical mistakes happen. I know of a case from when I was in the OR at NMCSD. I won't go into the details, but an very bad error on a child during an operation. I don't know that anything was ever done to the surgeons.

Response by SSgt Private RallyPoint Member made Jul 9 at 2015 2:12 PM

SSgt Private RallyPoint Member — Thu, 09 Jul 2015 14:12:37 -0400

There needs to be more transparency with the consequences. Often the government seems to wash themselves of the whole thing and everyone involved has to just move along. The doctors and staff should be held accountable for their mistakes.

Response by Cpl Joshua Wehrman made Jul 9 at 2015 3:37 PM

Cpl Joshua Wehrman — Thu, 09 Jul 2015 15:37:49 -0400

I have heard some horror stories from people who have given birth and taken kids to the hospital on camp pendleton in the 5 years I was stationed there. I may not have a choice for my self but I refused to take my family there. Keep in mind that there are bad people everywhere but outside the military you have many more options