Military Update: Bias Hampers Treatment for 'Invisible' Injuries

Summary

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Sixty-six percent of the most seriously wounded soldiers returning from Afghanistan and Iraq have "invisible" injuries of brain trauma or post-traumatic stress, which their families and society will deal with at great cost for decades, said Gen. Peter W. Chiarelli, the Army's vice chief of staff.

"The truth is, because we don't see these injuries...they don't receive the same level of attention as amputations, burns, shrapnel injuries," Chiarelli said. "There is simply a bias - and I really mean that - there is a bias either conscious or subconscious toward invisible wounds and injuries... It exists everywhere, including in the medical community."

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Military Update: Bias Hampers Treatment for 'Invisible' Injuries

Chiarelli made his remarks last week at Defense Forum Washington, a conference on support for wounded warriors and families.

Before Chiarelli spoke, April Marcum, wife of retired Air Force Tech. Sgt. Tom Marcum, described how her ...

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