Walter Reed, Military Medicine, a New Commission

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Senator Lieberman was just on National TV and made many of the points a  
great number of you have made on this list and to your Senators and  
Representatives.   It is obvious that there will be a Congressional  and Administrative 
investigation and Commissions.   I have several  suggestions as you continue to 
communicate your views to your congress people. 
 
1.    The fired Commanding Officer at Walter Reed was a  sacrificial lamb.  
His career is ruined by this knee jerk firing, when  others should have been 
the focus of reprisials.   He might should be  reinstated.  
 
2.    BRAC did make some good recommendations at the  time, but those 
recommendations need to be reanalyzed in view of current  war.   Maybe other closures 
and consolidations are in order while  expansions are in order in other 
areas.   BRAC should have  representatives from the civilian sector
 
3.    A new Military Medicine Commission must not be  politicized, but must 
include representatives from critical care, trauma,  emergency medicine, etc.   
 
 
4.    Many within the Military Industrial Complex are  spending money on 
things NOT of major concern during the time of THIS war.   We have had over 16,000 
MAJOR open amputations during the last 5 years in Iraq  and Afghanistan and 
spent about $100,000 on research in this area.  The  Army and Navy spent $100 
million on research on Malaria treatment last year  while only 25 military 
people got malaria, most from not taking their  drugs.   I do not say get rid of 
appropriate research and development,  just keep it relative.  
 
5.    It is long time that military medicine had a  DEPUTY Secretary of 
Defense for Health Affairs rather than several layers down  having an Assistant 
Secretary several layers down.   
 
6.    Except for Special Operations it is long overdue  time that the 
military medical services be FUSED for that is the way they work  right now, and very 
effectively.   Military Medicine as taught by  Uniformed Services University 
for Health Sciences at Bethesda is ALL SERVICE and  serves as a model of the 
direction military medicine should go.   A  3-4 star general doctor should also 
represent ALL military medicine at the joint  chiefs of staff.  
 
Thank each of you for your insight, your communications, and your  
leadership.   Obviously some on this list have been able to  communicate with Senator 
Lieberman, who is taking a lead in the Senate  Commission.  Let us help him and 
others keep focused.
 
Kenneth L. Mattox, MD
Houston
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