Medical care standards for our active duty military members are substandard..why??

Question

My daughter is serving in the military. while stationed overseas in Italy she was shot in the back by someone shooting at the base she was living on. She has a 2 in. wound about half in. from her spine. this was 8 weeks ago. no xray was done to see the extent of her injury. now stationed stateside she is still in incredible pain and the Dr.s are still refusing to xray. She is still on full duty statis and was told that if she wants she could pay out of pocket to get care through civilian medical facility. She also told me that she hasn't been issued a bullet proof vest because the base is out of money for the equipment. Same with her trying to replace her boots that she's had for 6 years. Why is it that the government can't still provide the basic needs of our children that are serving our country. She is loosing faith in our system. She was proud to sign up and is 3rd generation serving our country. She was very aware of the hardships military life but not of being ignored.

Ok so i suffer from foot in hand...My daughter mentioned boots in a different context and i was reacting emotionally. So no more on the boot issue. Thank you to those of you who gave qualified answers it's been a big help.

Answer 1

Because the republicans think that tax cuts for the very rich are more important.

Answer 2

To address the issue of the boots: she gets a yearly clothing allowance. That is more than adequate to cover the cost for new boots. I served 8 yrs and I bought a new pair every two yrs. If I am not mistaken it was about $430 a yr on the anniversary of going to boot.

As far as the medical portion of your question.....
Yes, I agree that military medical is sub-standared, but it is good. They are not doing an X-ray for a reason that she may not be telling you. It is highly unlikely that they would NOT do an x-ray, so there is something else going on here. They do not issue vests if you are not in a combat zone. They only people who have bullet-proof vests are the MA (military police) and those who volunteer to take up some slack for those hard working individuals. If she wants to go to a civilian doctor then she needs to get a referral. She is entitled to a second opinion, but she needs to go through the proper channels to achive that. I think that you need to sit down w/ your daughter and discuss this in more detail. The hospital will not do x-rays unless she is pregnant or if there was an exit wound.

I really wish her luck .

Answer 3

Sadly, this is not a new problem. Battlefield medical care is the best it has ever been and is nothing short of miraculous. Routine care is, and has been, often deplorable.

Still, your story seems a bit off. X-rays would be routine if the "bullet" penetrated her back so I assume the wound was more superficial than that. If there was no penetration the doctor may see no need for an x-ray and is reluctant to perform unneeded procedures, even something as innocuous as an x-ray. Finally, there may be a "line of duty" question if the military doctors are unwilling to go further.

Regardless, there is a chain of command. Your daughter (having been in the service at least six years) should know that she can go up the chain of command in the hospital and in her unit. If those fail she should file a complaint with the IG. There are many problems with military medical care. There are also many ways to resolve problems in the military. Use the system and, if justified, additional care will be given.

Answer 4

I'll try to answer a few of your points.First of all not all medical care is substandard. There are some fabulous docs out there and facilites. Don't beleive everything on the news! Military docs aren't always the best but she is entitled to second opinions, unfortunatly sometimes you have to fight to get docs to listen/give you referalls. You have to be willing to keep going back until you get help, unfortunatly with being active duty that can be tricky but it can be done -- especially if your Commander is behind you. She may need to speak to her Commander and go up the chain to the Hospital Commander as well. But she can't jump the chain wiley niley. She needs to keep track of all her visits, etc.

As far as issue of the vest that is not necessarily the base commander's fault & sometimes is just the way it is. Not saying it's right just that that's the way it is, they are issued to the people of highest need and her job may not be considered that. It sounds like the shooting was "incidental "and not in the line of duty -- please correct me if I'm wrong. $ is tight all over right now as the majority is heading to the war effort. Oh and NOBODY is issued a bullet proof vest to wear at home. It's very sad that she was shot but being realistic this has nothing to do with a vest.

As far as the boots -- you are only given inital issue (basic) after that you have to replace them yourself out of the yearly clothing allowance (at least in the Army). Hubby hasn't been issued (given) any ACU's (new Army uniforms) we have to buy them because he's already in. So the boots are on her most likely. That may sound harsh but that's what the allowance is for and think about it they can't issue everybody everything all the time -- that's why there are military clothing stores at the exchanges. Also Hubby owns like 4 pairs of desert boots that he's accquired over time - she should have at least two or three and rotate them.

Please tell her not to give up on the medical care -- not all places are horrible. It just takes persistance unfortunatly -- as I said that doesn't make it right, it just is. Nevertheless the military health care has been a huge blessing for us in spite of the headaches because we could never have afforded kiddos medical issues in a civilian job.

I hope that helps.

Answer 5

To everyone here, Navy Mom is my mom and my sister is the one she is refering to. To clarify a few points. My sister was shot in the back with a 9mm bullet while standing on her balcony at home on base. The bullet entered and bounced off her back rib. Yes it was a bleeding wound about 2in long. Had it gone between the ribs she would have been killed, entrance was directly behind her heart. My mother was there when this happened and no they did not xray and no reason was given. Going up the chain of command is easier said than done. Also, dependent care for military is better due to the fact that active military cannot sue for malpratice or negletful treatment of themselves. Refer to 'Military Claims Act' and the 'Federal Tort Claims Act'. Active members are not allowed to sue for injuries or mistreatment or neglet of treatment for themselves. They can sue on behalf of dependents though. She is persuing getting proper treatment but it has been truly a strugle. She is an MA2 and the base did say that funds are short.

Answer 6

If she's enlisted, she gets an allowance to buy new clothing as needed (new boots). If she's an officer, she's expected to be able to afford it out of her pay.

They're not going to issue bulletproof vests in a non-combat zone.

I get the feeling we're not getting the whole story here. She was shot with what - a paintball gun, an M-16...? What is this 2" wound - a bruise, a gaping bleeding wound...?

Obviously, between her injury in Italy and her current station stateside, she has seen more than one doctor. I have a hard time believing that they wouldn't X-ray/MRI or whatever if there was a medical need for it.

You claim medical care standards for our active duty military members are substandard, but there's not enough info here to argue that claim. So, not having her records and not being a medical professional, I can't really furnish any answer to you on this, and neither can anyone else.

Answer 7

Has she filed a complaint with any of her commanding officers..? She needs to voice her problem to as many people as she can... I've never had a problem with military medical care... They've always done everything in their power to make sure My family and me are taken care of... But if for some reason they were not doing their job I would contact Tri-care(I'm assuming that your daughter has Tri-care) and find out who I needed to contact and What I needed to do...What branch of military is she in the air force has a Contact number where you can ask questions...

Tricare website: www.tricare.osd.mil
Air Force contact center phone number: 1-800-616-3775

And for those of you who didn't really try to answer this question, The Republicans help those who are active duty and the Democrats help the veterans... maybe one day someone will be willing to take care of all military....

Answer 8

To the poster that insinuated that the newly elected democratic congress is responsible for the abhorrent conditions our injured veterans have received.

Nice try azzhole. Fortunately the American people know the truth - and all of this is coming out now that real oversight is starting to take place after the do-nothing, rubber-stamp congress has been kicked out.

Not to mention that there has been no talk of cutting of funds to the troops - and certainly not to those who have been injured. Congress is willing to give Bush all the money he needs - but he has to use it to get the troops out of Iraq by next year.

Otherwise, the veterans administration hospitals that are overloaded, and who have had their funding gutted by republicans (the very ones claiming to be 'supporting the troops') will continue to be overloaded, as more and more of our best and brightest continue to come back missing limbs, or with other permanent injuries.

Answer 9

First of all, the Navy Medical System is top rate. I am active duty Navy and so is my husband. There is something else going on here and a reason why they aren't giving her an x-ray. The Navy gives x-rays like they are going out of style so medically speaking there is a reason for it. She needs to ask to talk or run a special request chit to talk to the department head at the Naval Hospital or the CO of the Hospital is she wants to get the bottom line on her medical care if she thinks she isn't getting the treatment she deserves. This is a right she has and she should exercise it.

Next, about the bullet proof vest, they are very hard to get for females. They are not the same vest as the are for the men. they are sized just like a bra, 34 DD and so forth. That is why you probably not going to see one for her unless she goes to Iraq. It is horrible she got shot in Italy, but we aren't at war with Italy thus the lack of the bullet proof vest for her.

BOOTS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!???????????????She just like every other Navy person are her responsibility. Tell her to go to the Navy Exchange and spend part of her $450 annual uniform allowance that she gets EVERY YEAR to buy uniforms with and tell her to buy herself a new pair of boots. That money is supposed to buy new uniform items as the old uniform items wear out. It isn't for car payments, rent or Prada purses. Unless she works on the flight deck of an aircraft carrier, no Navy issued boots for her.

It sounds like your daugter has forgotten to mentions some very important things to you about her job in the Navy, like they do buy her boots, she just needs to use the money to buy them. And that she does have lots of medical rights she just needs to listen to the doctor for the reason why they aren't doing something or that if she isn't happy she can request to talk to someone more senior to whomever is treating her now. Don't let your daughter get one over on you to the point where you say things that are very out of bound like you did right here. I want your daughter to get the care she needs also, but going to you instead of through the proper channels isnt' going to get her the help she needs if she has a real problem.

Finally there are few hardships in the Navy and hundreds of benefits, both of you need to compare the life benefits of her life to what she would have if she would have stayed at home to work or to go to school. Stop the pitty party and look at all the great things she has had or experienced since being in the Navy. Can you go to Italy working at Walmart??? NO.
The Navy has given her more than she will ever know as it has the rest of us. Our family just had twin boys and the Navy paid the million dollar + bill. Great medical coverage!

Answer 10

Sad isn't it? All the TRILLIONS of dollars we spend on defense and military...and we can't even properly care for our wounded or even properly equip them in the field? I guess developing nukes and other high tech weaponry is far more imporatant than the people that use it.

Answer 11

And Bush is still delusional enough to think we're gonna win this war?! Your story is gut-wrenching, maddening....and sadly...typical of this country's current "regime". It is sobering proof that Bush sees OUR soldiers (not HIS) as nothing more than expendable tools of the trade. This makes me want to PUKE!!

All of my thoughts and good intentions are with you and your daughter. Please tell her thank you for me.