Fort Hood OBGYN Investigation: When Military Medical Care Fails to Protect Patients
- Glen Sturtevant
- 22 hours ago
- 2 min read
The Army is investigating an OBGYN who practiced at, contacting more than 1,400 patients about alleged misconduct. A lawsuit alleges Maj. Blaine McGraw sexually exploited patients for years while the Army failed to intervene despite complaints at Fort Hood and previously at Tripler Army Medical Center in Hawaii.
The allegations include secretly recording patients during examinations, inappropriate touching, and lewd comments. According to the lawsuit, the Army kept McGraw on staff despite patient complaints beginning in 2019.
The Institutional Failure Allegations
The lawsuit's most disturbing claims concern systemic failures. Complaints allegedly occurred at multiple facilities over several years, yet McGraw remained in practice. The lawsuit alleges the Army "gave cover to a predator in uniform."
Women who've come forward describe being dismissed when reporting concerns. One patient recounted calling the hospital seven times, only to be "dismissed, hung up on and shuffled aside." When investigators finally contacted patients, victims say they received inadequate support—one described receiving "a one-page pamphlet" rather than proper trauma counseling.
FTCA and Military Medical Malpractice
Cases at military medical facilities fall under the Federal Tort Claims Act. Military family members and civilian dependents can pursue FTCA claims for medical negligence and abuse at facilities like Darnall Medical Center. The Feres doctrine complicates matters for active-duty service members, potentially barring claims for injuries incident to military service. A soldier's spouse might have legal recourse while the soldier herself might not. The institutional negligence allegations—failure to respond to complaints, inadequate oversight, allowing a provider with known concerns to continue—could form the basis for claims beyond individual incidents. When military facilities fail to protect patients from known risks, that systemic failure can constitute separate negligence.
The Two-Year Deadline
For military families considering legal action, the FTCA's two-year statute of limitations applies. The clock typically starts when the injury occurred or when victims reasonably discovered it. Given that many patients are just learning about alleged misconduct through Army notifications, timing questions will be critical.
Fort Hood's Troubled History
This investigation emerges from the same base where Vanessa Guillén's 2020 murder sparked a national reckoning over the Army's handling of sexual harassment. An independent investigation found Fort Hood allowed a "permissive environment" for sexual misconduct. Current allegations of institutional failure to address complaints are particularly troubling given that history.
When military medical facilities fail to protect vulnerable patients, consequences extend beyond individual harm—they undermine trust in the entire military healthcare system.
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