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by Phyllis Hardin (Author)
Master Sergeant William Cornett (United States Air Force) became yet another countless victim of the Department of Defense (DoD) noncombat health care system in the fall of 2013. His death was the direct result of unqualified people practicing medicine. Upon entering his provider's names through the National Provider Identifier (NPI) registry, it was noticed the individuals that signed their credentials as doctors were actually licensed as a student and a general practice dentist.
In the twenty-first century, the DoD is abusing the casualty provisions put in place by President Abraham Lincoln to "care for him who shall have borne the battle, his widow, and orphan" to justify the most egregious medical disabilities and deaths of active duty service personnel and their families (Lincoln 1865). Military health care as currently provided by the DoD is driven by the Feres Doctrine, an antiquated law dating back to 1950. This law guarantees three items, including (1) the destruction of the integrity of military service families, (2) the inability of the military to be at its very best when defending the national and international interests of the United States, and (3) the continued abuse of casualty provisions with no accountability for this agency as it polices itself.
It is long overdue to bring the DoD noncombat health care system into the twenty-first century. This includes ensuring all noncombat health care is administered by board-certified medical providers practicing within the scope of their practice and following the same EBP standards as their civilian counterparts. Although this type of health care is already mandated by the DOD Manual 6025.13, the standards are not being followed.
Bringing the DoD health care system into the twenty-first century and amending the Feres Doctrine to apply only to combat health care is necessary (1) to protect the integrity of military service families, (2) to ensure the military will be at its best when defending the interests of this great nation, and (3) to provide a checks and balances system with accountability and oversight for an agency that is failing those that signed to defend our cherished freedoms!
