Murtha's death being investigated

[garybeck]

Washington (CNN) -- The National Naval Medical Center has opened a review of the surgical care provided to the late Congressman John Murtha after the Pennsylvania Democrat died following surgery, a senior U.S. military official told CNN Wednesday.

...

Murtha had his gallbladder removed by laparoscopic surgery January 28 at the National Naval Medical Center in Bethesda, Maryland. He later became ill and was admitted to Virginia Hospital Center's intensive care unit January 31 in Arlington, Virginia. Murtha died there February 8 at the age of 77.

Military sources say it's believed Murtha's intestine may have been nicked during the initial procedure, leading to massive infection. A source close to the congressman confirmed that theory to CNN's senior medical correspondent Elizabeth Cohen earlier this month.


http://www.cnn.com/2010/POLITICS/02/17/murtha.death.review/index.html

[SoCalDem]

1. As well it should be.. ANYONE who is 77, should have been

in the hospital being looked after, following surgery.. This infection came on him within a day or so, and if he had been in the hospital, having his vitals taken regularly would have picked up the infection sooner, and might have saved his life.

I know that hospitals love to cut 'em & kick 'em, but for older folks it can be deadly