Congress is currently deliberating over a bill that would enable individuals serving in the military to sue the U.S. government for medical malpractice. If it passes, this bill would be a complete reversal from our country’s current policy on medical malpractice suits against military doctors.
The Carmelo Rodriguez Military Medical Accountability Act was inspired by the tragic circumstances surrounding the 2007 death of Marine sergeant Carmelo Rodriguez due to skin cancer. When Rodriguez enlisted in 1997, a military doctor found a moon-shaped melanoma on his right buttock, but failed to inform Rodriguez of its presence or refer him to a specialist. In 2005, a different military doctor examined the same region after it had begun bleeding and oozing. This doctor misdiagnosed his cancer, calling it a wart.
After returning from Iraq, Rodriguez visited a non-military doctor and found out that he was suffering from stage-three cancer, which had already metastasized throughout his body. Over the next year and a half, his condition continuously deteriorated until his death in 2007 at age 29.
If this bill passes, it will increase governmental accountability on medical issues related to the care of our military personnel. Hopefully, it would also result in improved health care for our troops so that tragic mistakes like this do not happen again.
It is important to consult an experienced medical malpractice attorney if you have suffered any injuries as a result of subpar medical treatment. You may be eligible to receive compensation for your damages.
If you have a medical malpractice claim in the New York City metropolitan area, please contact the Law Offices of Silberstein, Awad, & Miklos, P.C. today to schedule a consultation.
