Quote:
Originally Posted by RichL025
This topic seems to crop up every once in a while.
Other people in the rest of the army seem to think SF medics can perform appendectomies and c-sections.
I can tell you during MY tenure no such capability existed. And speaking as a general surgeon now, I have a hard time believing it ever did.
VFOGs - were you guys ever taught this in the schoolhouse?
Or is this entirely an urban legend as I suspect?
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I was not taught it, and it is outside the scope of practice for 18Ds. Medics are taught amputations and debridement of soft tissue injuries, as well as emergency procedures like tubal thoracostomies, surgical crocs, and venous cut downs. Depending on the year they have been taught external fixator placement as well.... but not anything dealing with general surgery of the chest, abdomen, or internal organs.
However, I have heard the urban legends as well. They are likely just that.