Veterans File Class-Action Suit over Medical Retirements for Burn Pit-Related Illnesses
Two veterans have filed a class-action lawsuit against the Army for refusing to classify illnesses linked to burn pit exposure as combat-related, a designation that would make their medical retirement pay tax-free. Retired Sgt. 1st Class Kyle Smoke and retired Lt. Col. Jennifer McIntyre filed suit Oct. 15 in the U.S. District Court in Washington, […]
Fort Carson Training Medical Personnel for Large Scale European War
As the war in Ukraine kills and injures tens of thousands, European countries are getting more serious about medical training and ensuring the care is standardized across NATO nations. In a large-scale ground war in Eastern Europe, casualties could be, for example, transferred from a Danish Stryker ambulance to a Hungarian ambulance and then to […]
Families of Lewiston Shooting Victims Ask Judge for Army Reserve Gunman's Medical Records
More than 90 people who lost loved ones in the Lewiston mass shooting last October are trying to obtain the gunman’s medical and military records through his estate. A Sagadahoc County probate judge may determine whether to release those records during a hearing scheduled for Tuesday afternoon. On Oct. 25, 2023, Robert Card, of Bowdoin, […]
Military Medical Commands Developing Plans to Put Freeze-Dried Plasma in Hands of Medics, Corpsmen
Combat medics and corpsmen may soon carry a lifesaving blood product that their counterparts in the special operations community have had for more than a decade. The U.S. Food and Drug Administration granted an emergency use authorization in late August for a freeze-dried plasma powder made by Octapharma USA that can sustain injured personnel who […]
Special Needs Military Families Report Mixed Feelings About Program to Help with Medical Care, Services
A new Pentagon survey of military families with special needs members found that less than half were satisfied and 57% were dissatisfied or had no opinion about the Exceptional Family Member Program, or EFMP, though reactions varied by military branch. The Defense Department surveyed 100,000 active-duty troops enrolled in EFMP from November 2022 through March […]
Commission on Maine Mass Shooting to Question Army Reservist's Medical Providers
The commission investigating the Lewiston mass shooting will hold two virtual public hearings on Thursday to learn more about the medical treatment Robert Card received in New York last summer after he tried to assault a fellow soldier. The group had previously announced it would question an Army nurse practitioner who worked at Kelly Army […]
Alaska National Guard Performs Medical Mission While Shuttling Santa to Give Gifts to Rural Village
JOINT BASE ELMENDORF-RICHARDSON, Alaska — Santa Claus’ sleigh took on new responsibilities in rural Alaska this week when delivering gifts to an Alaska Native village. Santa’s ride, an Alaska Army National Guard UH-60 Black Hawk helicopter, was shuttling Santa, Mrs. Claus, volunteer elves and gifts in shifts Wednesday to provide the children of Tuluksak some […]
Soldier Dies from Medical Emergency During Basic Training at Fort Moore
An Army basic trainee at Fort Moore, Georgia, died Friday after receiving emergency medical care, the service said. Pfc. Cesar Gonzalez, 21, died during infantry training after succumbing to a “medical emergency,” according to a statement from the Army. It was unclear what led to the soldier’s death, and the incident is still under investigation. […]
Tripler Army Medical Center to Pay $29.5M in Malpractice Case
Hawaii’s U.S. District Court on Tuesday awarded $29.5 million to a local military family in the largest medical malpractice judgment against Tripler Army Medical Center for a 2016 incident involving their then-month-old child. In September 2016, John and Laura Warren rushed their daughter to Tripler when their baby’s belly became distended and tight, and she turned blue from the bellybutton down. Shortly […]
Patients Still Haven’t Returned to Texas Medical Barracks Battling Legionella
Eight months after detecting Legionella, a medical barracks at Joint Base San Antonio is still shuttered to residents and employees. The barracks detected the bacteria, which can cause a severe type of pneumonia called Legionnaires’ disease, in its water this past September, forcing 100 residents and 50 employees in the building to relocate across the […]