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CBS NewsCBS Evening News: Congress Takes Up The Case Of Sgt. Carmelo Rodriguez, Which We First Brought You Last Year(CBS) About a year ago, CBS News reported on the story of a Marine, Carmelo Rodriguez, who died of skin cancer that military doctors noticed but left untreated.
Rodriguez's family cannot sue the government for malpractice - the law won't let them. A year later, CBS News chief national correspondent Byron Pitts has a follow-up on our exclusive investigation.
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His death sparked a rush of e-mails, letters and calls to CBS News and members of Congress. Due to what's known as the Feres Doctrine, Rodriguez's family, including his 8-year-old son, cannot sue the military for medical malpractice.
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"Carmelo wanted his story to be heard, even if his life couldn't be saved," she said. "He wanted to ensure that what happened to him could not happen to another service member."
Today's hearing was just the latest step in a long legislative progress. It could be months before the Carmelo Rodriguez bill ever reaches the floor of Congress for a vote. In nearly 60 years, no one has ever successfully challenged the Feres Doctrine. But no ever made it this far either.
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http://www.cbsnews.com/stories/2009/03/24/eveningnews/main4890657.shtml?tag=main_home_storiesBySection