Dez Del Barba’s Military Medical Malpractice Incident from 2019;
My name is Dez Del Barba. I grew up around a military family my whole life. Both my mother and my aunt are first generation immigrants from India, and both are combat veterans. My mom retired after serving over twenty years and my aunt is currently on her twenty-ninth year of Military Service with the US Army. My first cousin (also like my brother) is serving in the US Air Force. My Great Grandfather spent three Years in the US Army of those he spent 117 days in Germany fighting against the Nazis. My Grandfather, who was a second-Generation Italian, joined the US Marine and served four years.
Many people have dreams and aspirations of having a career in tech, medicine, engineering or law. I had dreams and aspirations of having a career in the United States Military and it was something I knew I always wanted to do from a very young age. I wanted to join the military right out of high school, however I was guided to pursue a bachelor’s degree first before getting commissioned as an Officer.
I was an extremely healthy and athletic 21-year-old man before I enlisted in the US Army. I never had any health issues and never had any major injuries besides an ACL tear on my right knee. I was very excited to start my military career in the United States Army.
The Army is the only branch that makes it a requirement for their officers to complete BCT before they can attend OCS. I was accepted into the OCS program as I had a few semesters of college left to finish before obtaining my degree. I decided to take a leave from absence from college to complete BCT, return to school, then upon graduation from college attend OCS.
I shipped out to Fort Benning GA on January 7, 2019, and like many young men and women I was excited, energetic, enthusiastic and even anxious for this new adventure. I was assigned to Bravo company 1st Battalion, 46th Infantry Regiment.
However, my aspiring military career was taken away from after thirty-five days in the military. Thirty-Five (35) days is all it took for the United States Army to destroy my life. I was left grossly neglected by the United States Military health care system and by my Basic Training leadership at Fort Benning, GA.
In my statement I have provided a thorough timeline of events on what happened to me during my time with the Army that I will discuss briefly now.
On Feb 3, 2019, I started to feel mild pain in both of my lower extremities. My legs felt extremely sore, and it was starting to get difficult to do something as simple as squat onto my bed or get down on one knee to tie my boots. I decided to go see the MTAC (Athletic Trainer) the following day to make sure I didn’t strain anything in my legs.
The following day, on Feb 4, 2019, I put in my pass to the Drill Sergeants to go get treated at Maneuver Tactical Athlete Care (MTAC) Monday morning. Apparently, there was some logistical issues happening with the Drill Sergeants and as a result I was about 30 min late to my appointment. As we showed up for the appointment, the athletic trainer came out and said “You guys are late. Go the f*** away.” We didn't even have a chance to explain to him that it wasn't even our fault that we were late, and I did not understand why someone would say something like this when we were coming to receive treatment. I proceeded to continue training that day and fight through the aches in my body.
On February 5, 2019, my request for sick call was granted again, as I was still experiencing the same symptoms and this time, I was actually able to be seen by the same athletic trainer that yelled at us the day before. The athletic trainer evaluated my legs and I explained to him they were very sore. He gave me some stretches to do and just told me my legs were sore from all the running in our combat boots that we were doing. I unknowingly trusted his professional opinion. I got a “No running/lower body exercises” profile and continued to do the same training as my battle buddies.
On February 6, 2019, my request to go to MTAC was granted again, and I was seen by the same athletic trainer. I was examined for knee, quad and hamstring pain. No vitals were taken on me. My exams were taken with all my clothes on even with the complaints being about my leg pain. I was yet again told to return to the barracks and given stretching guidelines. I was told to return if pain still exists with my same “No running/lower body exercises” profile.
On Feb 7, 2019, I woke up to go sick call as my symptoms has worsened. It felt as though I had sandbags strapped to my ankles and every step, I took was more painful than the last. That’s how my legs were feeling. I was also experiencing severe throat pain at this time as well.
I waited about an hour in 40-degree Georgia weather to be seen by a medical professional. After finally getting my number called, I was seen by a
Physician Assistant (PA). I told the PA of my leg pain and how my throat had been hurting. I informed her how it was becoming difficult for me to swallow and eat my food/drink. She proceeded to swab my throat for a Strep A culture.
With Strep A there are 2 strains, one can come back in 5-10 minutes with results and the other strain takes about 24-48 hours to come back with results. The rapid test came back negative, and the PA just gave me throat lozenges to sooth my throat. As I reminded her again of my severe leg pain, she proceeded to tell me it was because of the training we were doing; which didn’t make sense to me as I had a lower body profile and hadn’t trained legs for the past few days. I asked her if I could be put on bed rest (no training at all) but she said the lower body profile was enough. She then told me if the other culture came back positive that I would be notified.
On Feb 8, 2019, I went back to MTAC for physical therapy for knee pain. With no vitals being taken, my lower extremities were examined while I was fully clothed, and it was determined that they were fully functional for “squats and lunges”. The staff told me to continue stretching and I was returned to my company to continue training.
That same day at 12:26 pm; my throat culture from the prior day came back positive. A handwritten note stated the last 4 of my SSN, my name and date of birth. It had my company and platoon number as well. The note also stated, “Positive for Strep A, notify Monday February 11, 2019 in the AM”. This note was also entered into my medical records on the database.
However, despite the positive test results, no one contacted me or my command to notify us of the positive result that could have save me, my body and my military career. Instead, on Feb 9, 2019, I went back to MTAC again for severe leg pain. I informed the same athletic trainer that my legs were seriously hurting. He informed to keep me on lower body profile and gave me more stretches to do. Despite my conditions, I was still able to complete a PT test (being exempt from 2-mile run) scoring 42 Push ups (60 points out); 69 Sit-ups (86 points); and Eagle Tower that afternoon. I skipped the rope event because my body just couldn’t take the pain.
That evening I requested to go to sick call the following morning. That same evening at about 6:00pm SSG Ken Del Valle (a prior USAF airman transitioning over to the US Army) tried to get the help I needed (without my knowledge). SSG Del Valle could clearly see something was wrong with me. He reached out to DS Muravy who was two buildings away helping other privates. Ken expressed his belief that I was very sick, and that I should be taken to be seen that night. The DS asked if I (Del Barba) had gone to the hospital, to which he replied that I had been there already. The DS then suggested that there’s likely little that could be done then.
On Sunday morning, Feb 10, 2019, I went to sick call again. During this trip to medical I was harassed, bullied and ridiculed by some Drill SGT for leaving training again.
I arrived at the Emergency Department at sick call. Prior to going to check in at the ED, there are 3 flights of stairs you have to go up, and I was told by my DS that I was not permitted to take the elevator as I recalled him stating that “Privates aren’t allowed to take elevators”. My legs were in so much pain that each step I took exerted so much energy out of me. I was finally seen at 0758 AM.
My medical records states “patient complains of sore throat since Wednesday to troop medical clinic, meds given, still has pain, no cough, hoarse voice.” I was seen by Physician, and he asked me questions about how I was feeling. As I informed him of the unbearable leg and throat pain I was experiencing he proceeded to check my throat and tell me that I was fine.
The interaction with the doctor took all of three minutes. He clocked out of the room and left without saying anything further after three minutes. Three minutes is all the time he afforded me to evaluate what was happening inside my body that was causing me the worst pain I had never felt or experienced in my life. To make matters even worse, had this doctor ever bothered to check in my medical records, he would have seen I had tested positive for Strep A from information put in by the PA on the previous Friday. I was then discharged yet again with no antibiotics or medicine besides 800 mg of ibuprofen and throat lozenges you can purchase at your local pharmacy.
That evening, I was in so much pain, a few of my battle buddies started massaging my legs and continuously tried to take care of me as I lay on my bed in the barracks. I took the ibuprofen and throat lozenges every 30 minutes hoping and praying the pain in my legs and throat will subside even for a few minutes.
That night I was in so much pain, I couldn’t even fall asleep. I fell of my bunk because I was so lethargic, weak and in pain I didn’t even have the strength to sit still. I had the feeling of needing to use the restroom but couldn’t even get myself to go. It hurt so much to just walk 10 feet to the bathroom, I had to splash water on my face to get a second of relief…
My fellow battle buddies on fire watch saw me fall out of bed and they saw me struggle to get to the bathroom. At this point at around 3 or 3:30 AM EST, they searched for a DS to get help for me. It isn’t until around 4-4:30 AM that a DS was found. He asked me if I really wanted to go to the ER, because if I miss today’s day of training, I would be recycled and have to do a phase of BCT over again. I said I needed to go, and he walked away and said to meet him in his truck. I was left alone, and I struggled to walk without any pain my legs. A battle buddy of mine with a strained ankle had crutches, he gave them to me. Two other battle buddies helped me move my way to the truck which was about 50 yards away from my bed. As I am rushed to the ER at Martin Army Community Hospital, I was seen by, and it was noted that I had swelling in both legs, and it appeared I could walk but was uncoordinated. I was then taken by ambulance to Piedmont Hospital in Columbus GA at 0653 AM. The last thing I remember is the doctor cutting open my pant legs, numbing my left leg with some needle and proceeding to make a small incision on the left leg with a small scalpel. Black and purplish rotting flesh oozed out of the incision and the next thing I know I had an oxygen mask put over my mouth and then everything turned black.
I was placed in a medically induced coma during this time. The next series of events that happened to me I have no recollection of but are noted in my records.
On Monday, February 11 at 4:00 AM (PST), my parents received a phone call from Captain Andrew T. Schmidt, Bravo Company Commander and were advised to fly immediately to Columbus, Georgia, as I was in ICU and preparing to undergo my first surgery. Piedmont Doctors informed my parents that I had contracted Necrotizing Fasciitis from my Strep A infection and that I would need immediate lifesaving emergency surgery. Before my parents arrived in Atlanta, GA I had already undergone multiple debridement surgeries.
On Monday, February 11, my parents landed at 8:30PM in Atlanta, GA and were rushed to Piedmont Hospital, arriving there at approximately 10:00 PM. The doctors informed them that I was in extremely critical condition, and they were unsure if I would live. They were told that my chances of surviving were estimated at 10%.
On Tuesday, February 12, I underwent more debridement surgeries. Doctors from Piedmont Hospital coordinated with doctors from Institute of Surgical Research Burn Center (ISR) in San Antonio, Texas. Dr. Floyd Orthopedic Trauma Surgeon Specialist with over 22 years’ experience informed my parents to make their “phone calls”. My condition was uncertain and there was a high risk of me losing all four of my limbs.
On Wednesday, February 13, at approximately 3:00 PM, my transfer to the University of Alabama, Birmingham (UAB) burn unit was approved. I was flown to UAB in a specially equipped aircraft while my family drove.
On Wednesday, February 13, Piedmont doctors performed 19 surgeries to save my life.
On Wednesday, February 13, a kind woman stopped by to talk to my family. She informed them that her son was a Drill Sgt at Ft Benning and that 56 soldiers had tested positive for Strep A at Fort Benning around the same time that I did. My mom still has this text message saved from February 13, 2019.
On Thursday, February 14, in the morning, doctors from ISR arrived at UAB to assess my condition. That early afternoon, the doctors informed my parents that in order to save my life, they would need to amputate my left leg. They stated that the disease was very aggressive and that it had eaten away lots of flesh, muscle and tissue from my body already. They also informed my family that I would need to be moved to the ICU burn unit at Institute of Surgical Research Burn Center at BAMC in San Antonio, TX.
On Friday, February 15, I remained intubated and in critical condition. My transfer to Institute of Surgical Research Burn Center was approved. The doctors were unsure if my right leg could be saved but indicated they would do all they could to save it.
On Saturday, February 16, I was transported via private air ambulance to Institute of Surgical Research Burn Center, San Antonio, Texas to prepare for my additional surgeries and treatment that would save my life.
On Tuesday, February 19, Maneuver Center of Excellence Command Surgeon LTC Ethan Miles, SFC Congdon and a Master Sergeant (name unknown) from Ft. Benning met with my parents. LTC Miles informed my family that there were “56 positive cases in [my] company,” and “405 positive cases in two brigades at Fort Benning” during the time that I contracted Strep A.
What happened to me did not have to happen. This was preventable. I can sit here and speak all day about what happened to me but my pictures will put my words into perspective of the damage that has been done to my body and my mind. Please see the attached photos for a better understanding of what I went through and what could have been avoided had the medical providers at Fort Benning given me adequate medical attention or promptly treated me after receiving my positive Strep results.
My life has been changed forever. That once active, and healthy 21-year-old man now must deal with a lifetime of challenges and obstacles because of the neglect I suffered at the hand of the medical staff and command at Ft. Benning, Ga provided me with.
If I was your son, if I was your brother, if I was your loved one, would you sit stagnant waiting for answers? I would think not. You would fight for their rights, and you would never stop until the questions are answered and the responsible people are held accountable.
I would pose the question; how can the Military say it is adequately providing medical quality assurance for servicemembers like myself if when it takes over three years to complete Quality Assurance Investigations in a case as egregious as mine.
I am here today fighting not only for myself but for all other servicemembers that have been subjected to an adverse event at a military treatment facility that have never had a proper or appropriate Quality Assurance Investigation completed to determine what happened to them and to ensure those responsible are held accountable. This is a grave injustice for our servicemembers, and this is the least that they deserve given that some of them are no longer here as a result.
As the saying goes “life goes on”. My life will go on, I will eventually find the strength mentally and physically to work past this horrendous time in my life. However, this has re-shaped my identity as a human being. Daily things that you all take for granted such as putting on your shoes before work, taking a walk around the neighborhood, going for a dip in the pool when it’s too hot outside, these are all things that I am not able to do either at all or as easily anymore as a 24-year-old man.
I cannot stress the negative emotional impact this has caused on myself as well as those close to me, so for a second, I’d like for you all to put yourself in my shoes. You are 21 years old at what is said to be the prime of your life, you get not only your identity stripped away but your simple will to live because if you make it out of this wretched time in life “what will the people you know think of you now for having to be in wheelchair? “Will I ever be able to be intimate, what will they think of my scars?” and so on.
I would never wish what I went through upon anyone, but unfortunately that may not be possible seeing that those responsible for the poor medical care I received are still employed by the Army to treat more service members. I can never forgive those who failed me in basic training. I will continue on, bettering myself every day, but I will never stop fighting to have my story heard and ensure those responsible for the neglect I faced during my time in the Army are held accountable.
I ask you to take away the feeling of motivation from what I have shared here with you today. The motivation to want to better a system that should be at its finest for the men and women who want to serve for our country.
