Report Faults Hospital For Marine's Death (Tampa, FL VA)

Tampa Tribune ^ | 6-3-05 | Richard Lardner

[STARWISE]

TAMPA - A young Marine who died while being treated at Tampa's James A. Haley VA Medical Center did not receive adequate care from staff who failed to recognize the severity of his condition, the U.S. Veterans Affairs Department concluded in a report released Thursday.

An investigation by VA's inspector general acknowledged that Lance Cpl. Jonathan Gadsden arrived at Haley ``highly compromised'' by blast injuries suffered in Iraq.

(snip)

Before Gadsden's admission at Haley in late September, ``there had been insufficient staff training to deal with the multifaceted issues'' exclusive to patients wounded by roadside bombs and other crude weapons, the report said.

(snip)

Gadsden, 21, died Oct. 22 of bacterial meningitis, two months after sustaining severe injuries to his head, chest, abdomen and back when his Humvee hit an improvised explosive device in Al Anbar province, according to the June 1 report.

(snip)

Between the time Gadsden was injured and his transfer to Haley, he received care at medical facilities in Iraq, Germany, and the National Naval Medical Center in Bethesda, Md.

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When Gadsden got to Haley, ``he was alert, cooperative, and oriented to person, place, month and year,'' the report said.

A week later, Gadsden's condition had worsened. His white blood cell count was elevated and he had a fever. A doctor prescribed antibiotics by phone and visited Gadsden's bedside the next day. This would be ``the only documented visit any infectious diseases physician'' would make until Gadsden had a cardiopulmonary arrest Oct. 19.

According to the inspector general, a more thorough review by the infectious diseases staff may have led to the discovery of the acinetobacter, a bacteria found in the soil in Iraq that can enter the body through dirty battlefield wounds.

[STARWISE]

"The report faulted Haley's management of significant changes in Gadsden's mental status a few days before he died. Doctors who saw him did ``not recognize the gravity of this patient's mental condition,'' the report said. Physicians who would have recognized it ``were never called.'' ---------------

So sad .. prayers for this courageous hero's family. Rest in peace, brave Marine.

[Dr.Hilarious]

I wonder if Newsweek and the other MSM weasels who scream over every hangnail reported by a terrorist will devote as much ink to this sad story about one of OUR people.

[LibWhacker]

Someone's head needs to roll.

[konaice]

R.I.P. Hero.

[CyberAnt]

Why wasn't he at Walter Reed.

[STARWISE]

He was at Bethesda and released .. wonder why.

"Gadsden, 21, died Oct. 22 of bacterial meningitis, two months after sustaining severe injuries to his head, chest, abdomen and back when his Humvee hit an improvised explosive device in Al Anbar province, according to the June 1 report.

Gadsden was from Charleston, S.C. He was assigned to the 1st Marine Division's 1st Combat Engineer Battalion at Camp Pendleton, Calif."

Between the time Gadsden was injured and his transfer to Haley, he received care at medical facilities in Iraq, Germany, and the National Naval Medical Center in Bethesda, Md.

Despite the severity of the wounds, Gadsden appeared to be improving, the inspector general found. Just before leaving for Haley, while still using a wheelchair, he went to a football game. The following day, he was able to walk 50 feet.

[CyberAnt]

Well .. it sounds like somebody was not paying attention to what was really going on. Young bravado men don't want people to see they're struggling. Thank you GOD for your mercy upon this young man's soul.

[carumba]

...led to the discovery of the acinetobacter, a bacteria found in the soil in Iraq that can enter the body through dirty battlefield wounds.

This bacteria is not a common infectious agent and it grows slowly on media that are commonly used in clinical microbiology labs to isolate organisms and test for sensitivity to antibiotics.

[newzjunkey]

The VA is notorious for shoddy care. I can't understand why the plague of poor care, inept management, funding issues, and worse follows the VA like it does but it goes back decades. Candidates Bush/Cheney promised our vets that "Help is on the way" and as far as I'm concerned they've lied.

Here in San Diego we take up collections to buy boxers and other essentials for the wounded at the local VA hospital. Need help with a vet who is suffering dementia? Sorry, no room at the inn but if he were a DRUNK or DRUGGIE he'd be welcome with open arms.

Hopefully change will come and no more Marine's will suffer this soldier's fate at the hands, not of an enemy, but of his own broken health care system.

[newzjunkey]

Perhaps it's full up or they're ahead of closing it as planned? Well, actually they plant to rename Bethesda to Walter Reed but it will not be the same.

I was treated well at Walter Reed, I for one would like to see it stay open but these things have a way of happening. Just like the VA's inept care. It's chronic and no matter who's in the Oval... Carter, Reagan, Bush, Clinton, W... the VA's care is a scandal and blight on us all when those soldiers should be getting nothing less than the very finest medical care available in our nation.

[Wristpin]

I don't see how a Marine on active duty got outsourced to a VA hospital. Is this common?

[Route101]

Pathetic when the hospitals won't take care of the people defending us!......

[American Vet Repairman]

"I don't see how a Marine on active duty got outsourced to a VA hospital. Is this common?"

It does occur and will occur more often when we close either Bethesda or Reed.

The biggest problem with the VA system is that the bureaucracy is more important than the mission. Whoever the President appoints will not change the system. The reason is that upper management knows that this person is only there for a short while. I will not believe that the VA will change for the better until VA Directors are fired for mismanagement.

The problems at the VA make Enron look tame in regards to unprofessional conduct.

[American Vet Repairman]

"The VA is notorious for shoddy care. I can't understand why the plague of poor care, inept management, funding issues,"

The VA does not have funding issues. More money has come to the VA since 911. There is a bonus program in effect in which management gets money for sending money back and saving money on building projects. If anyone does not believe this just check out the news report on the VA in Charleston. I repeat Directors are getting bonuses-there IS NO FUNDING SHORTAGE.

[Lexington Green]

This same hospital killed my brother.

[ExpatGator]

The VA system sucks. Imagine the efficiency of a county road crew, coupled with the attitude of a welfare "benefits" office staff. There are some in the system who care, but their efforts are blunted by those marking time.

The doctors are, in most cases, the dregs of medical schools, flunkies and junkies who stay in the medical field for the easy access to pharmaceuticals. The turnover rate is unreal. In one year I saw 5 different doctors, because my previous "primary care" physician had gone elsewhere. There is no continuity of care, and one hand does not have an inkling of what the other is doing.

I have been seen 2 hours after a scheduled appointment, and at the same clinic, was refused to be seen when I was 4 minutes late after driving through a blinding snowstorm. Needless to say I do not, and will not use the VA system again.

[American Vet Repairman]

"Needless to say I do not, and will not use the VA system again."

Unless Vets unite to fix the system, it will never get fixed.

[SC Swamp Fox]

Cpl. Jonathan Gadsden was from Charleston, SC.

South Carolina Ping

Add me to the ping list. Remove me from the ping list.

[DLfromthedesert]

Condolences for the loss of a true hero.

[SC Swamp Fox]

My sister is a nurse in the VA system. She has told me some sad stories over the years. This one just makes me mad, this was a young man who should have walked out of that hospital.

(She was active duty Army for 10 years, became a reservist and was activated for Gulf War I. She retired from the reserves a couple of years ago and still works for the VA.)