Katie Porter: “Our servicemembers deserve the best medical care and often they get world-class care, but sometimes military doctors…”

“Our servicemembers deserve the best medical care and often they get world-class care, but sometimes military doctors fail our servicemembers, making grave errors. In the civilian world, patients can file malpractice claims in court against doctors and have a jury hear their claims, but military doctors are immune from that scrutiny. Instead, several years ago, Congress and the DOD developed a process for evaluating servicemember malpractice claims, but that process is clearly broken. We all have constituents who have been victims of military medical malpractice, and we need to hold DOD and its doctors accountable. That is why I cosponsored Congressman Issa's HERO Act and that is why we need this amendment. We need an independent, objective analysis of how military medicine is failing our servicemembers. My bipartisan amendment would address servicemember traumatic brain injury stemming from blast pressure in combat and in training. Brain injuries among servicemembers are on the rise. Just last month, there were reports that artillery soldiers are also suffering these career-altering injuries. Whether injuries are the result of training or combat, our servicemembers and their families need the best healthcare we can offer. That is what this amendment does by requiring the DOD to explore new technologies for the treatment and prevention of brain injuries. Last year, this amendment passed the House with bipartisan support.…”