Naval Medical Center launches review of its care of Rep. John Murtha before his death

Naval hospital reviewing late Rep. Murtha’s care

WASHINGTON — The Navy is reviewing the way its Bethesda, Md., medical center cared for Rep. John Murtha, who died following complications from gallbladder surgery.

A Navy spokesman, Cmdr. Danny Hernandez, said Thursday an in-depth review of the care that Murtha received at the National Naval Medical Center has begun. He said it’s the type of review required when a patient dies at the facility. Murtha died later at a different hospital.

The 77-year-old Pennsylvania Democrat was first hospitalized with gallbladder problems in December at the National Naval Medical Center and eventually had his gallbladder removed there. A few days later he came to another hospital’s emergency room with a fever and infection. The Virginia Hospital Center in Arlington, Va., said he died there Feb. 8 from “major complications from surgery” at the first hospital.