November 17, 2006
WE ARE THE SOLDIERS OF OUR QUEEN, MY LADS
MoD agrees £375,000 for post-trauma stress (Michael Evans, The Times, November 17th, 2006)
A soldier has been awarded £375,000 after becoming the first member of the Armed Forces successfully to sue the Ministry of Defence for suffering post-traumatic stress while serving in Iraq.The soldier, who has not been identified, is one of three members of the Army who have been suing the MoD over an incident in April 2003, when an anti-tank rocket blew up while being test-fired in southern Iraq. The other cases have yet to be settled.
The MoD said it had accepted liability in the first case because the weapon system, a LAW 90 anti-tank rocket, had clearly been defective.
Four soldiers were involved in test-firing when the barrel ignited. One soldier lost an arm and has been granted substantial compensation.
The three others were not physically injured but all put forward claims that they had suffered post-traumatic stress after witnessing the grievous wounds to their comrade.
Wouldn't it be crazy to volunteer to fight for the West these days without both an international lawyer and tort lawyer on retainer?
Posted by Peter Burnet at November 17, 2006 7:40 PMI have the ultimate respect and gratitude for any person that has served for the cause of the West in combat, but this is wrong. Getting PTSD from combat service is not some unintended, accidental "side effect" of combat, it is almost a guarantee. That is why we honor servicemen and women for their sacrifice. They know up front that they are risking life and limb. The nation that they serve should provide them with the medical and rehabilitative care that they need to recover from their combat service and to re-enter civilian life, but liability awards? It cheapens the honor of service.
Posted by: Robert Duquette at November 17, 2006 8:06 PMThis has nothing to do with the way such matters are handled in the U.S..
Feres doctrine. Nothing to see here.
Posted by: Lou Gots at November 18, 2006 10:08 AM