John Murtha (D-PA) dies at 77

[sadaist]

Congressman John Murtha Passes Away at Age 77


WASHINGTON, D.C. -- Congressman John P. Murtha (PA-12) passed away peacefully this afternoon at 1:18 p.m. at Virginia Hospital Center in Arlington, VA. At his bedside was his family.

Murtha, 77, was Chairman of the House Appropriations Subcommittee on Defense.

First elected to the U.S. House of Representatives in February of 1974, Murtha dedicated his life to serving his country both in the military and in the halls of Congress. A former Marine, he became the first Vietnam War combat Veteran elected to the U.S. Congress.

This past Saturday, February 6, 2010, Murtha became Pennsylvania's longest serving Member of Congress.

A complete biography is available on his website.


John Murtha Dead: Died At Age 77

[sadaist]

Weird, but nowadays even 77 seems too young to go. Too bad he didn't get a chance to retire & spend more time with his family before he went. Worked until the very end.

[FORD]

Shit.... could have sworn I saw headlines last night that said he was improving.

First Vietnam vet to be elected to Congress, and the first "hawk" to condemn Chimpy's invasion of Iraq.

Didn't agree with him on everything but he will be missed. And given the right wing leanings of the PA "Democratic" party, his replacement will be a definite downgrade.

Rest in Peace, John.

[sadaist]

Shit.... could have sworn I saw headlines last night that said he was improving.

First Vietnam vet to be elected to Congress, and the first "hawk" to condemn Chimpy's invasion of Iraq.

Didn't agree with him on everything but he will be missed. And given the right wing leanings of the PA "Democratic" party, his replacement will be a definite downgrade.

Rest in Peace, John.

Yeah, I had seen reports of him stabilizing/improving too. But older people, it doesn't take a whole lot to swing it the other way.

[Va Beach VH Fan]

Fucking doctors nicked his intestines....

[sadaist]

Fucking doctors nicked his intestines....

Aw shit. Here comes the lawsuits.




Murtha's Death Caused By Surgical Mistake

Rep. John Murtha's (D-PA) death on Monday has been reported by various news outlets as resulting from "complications following gallbladder surgery." Via Taegan Goddard, the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette reports that the "complications" involved a mistake by Murtha's surgeons.

Mr. Murtha was first hospitalized with gallbladder problems in December. He had surgery Jan. 28 at the National Naval Hospital in Bethesda, Md. He went home, but was hospitalized two days later when complications developed. According to a source close to Mr. Murtha -- confirming a report in Politico -- doctors inadvertently cut Mr. Murtha's intestine during the laparoscopic surgery, causing an infection.

Murtha's Death Caused By Surgical Mistake

[FORD]

And this is why the Repuke/teabagger myth of "tort reform" being a solution to anything needs to end. Doctors who do stupid shit like that deserve to be sued, especially when they kill the patient.

[Nitro Express]

Well. He's either in heaven having an orgy with virgins or he's in hell having his ass burned.

[Sgt Schultz]

And this is why the Repuke/teabagger myth of "tort reform" being a solution to anything needs to end. Doctors who do stupid shit like that deserve to be sued, especially when they kill the patient.

The operative term is "reform" not "Outlaw All Lawsuits". Ain't no myth that real tort reform would reduce healthcare costs.

[BigBadBrian]

And this is why the Repuke/teabagger myth of "tort reform" being a solution to anything needs to end. Doctors who do stupid shit like that deserve to be sued, especially when they kill the patient.

He had his operation at a Navy Hospital. You can't sue a military doc.

I'm quite sure he also signed a form stating all risks involved with his surgery. Medicine is not a perfect science.

It's too bad he's gone, but now let's just all concentrate on getting a Republican in his seat!

[Va Beach VH Fan]

He had his operation at a Navy Hospital. You can't sue a military doc.

That's true, but he died at a civilian hospital....

Virginia Hospital Center

[Sgt Schultz]

I'm sure if the Dr. was on a Govt. payroll he won't have to worry, because when Govt. screws up and kills people, it's never their fault and no one gets fired or penalized. Just ask Milwaukeeans about the 100 people who died because of an incompetent water department.

[Guitar Shark]

I'm sure if the Dr. was on a Govt. payroll he won't have to worry, because when Govt. screws up and kills people, it's never their fault and no one gets fired or penalized. Just ask Milwaukeeans about the 100 people who died because of an incompetent water department.

I appreciate the sentiment, but this is just incorrect. Sovereign immunity has been largely eliminated virtually everywhere. The "government" is routinely sued for negligence and routinely pays out large settlements.

[Seshmeister]

And this is why the Repuke/teabagger myth of "tort reform" being a solution to anything needs to end. Doctors who do stupid shit like that deserve to be sued, especially when they kill the patient.

Interesting.

So should you be sued if you make a mistake at any point?

In any case of course it's not the doctor that pays it's everyone since it will be paid by an insurance company who in turn will pass the expense back to doctors who pass it back to patients via a different insurance company leaving Americans paying twice as much and getting less from their healthcare than everyone else...

[sadaist]

I don't know if the doctor should be sued in this case. Murtha was old & weak already. A younger healthier patient would have probably survived. But when they remove the left something instead of the right...or leave a fucking sponge in you. That's the type of shit that these guys should pay dearly for. Problem is there is a lot of stuff that would fall into a grey area.

It's just probably really weighing on his loved ones knowing it was an error that caused his death, not that it was just his time.