New York Malpractice & Injury Lawyer Blog
The VA, or U.S. Department of Veterans’ Affairs, employs close to 19,000 doctors and operates 152 hospitals. In the last dozen years, the VA has paid out approximately $100 million per year to settle veterans’ medical malpractice claims. In the ten years following the attacks of 9/11, the VA paid close to 1,000 families $200 million to settle wrongful death cases. What is going on?
VA Inspector General reports have determined that multiple patient care problems can be linked back to mismanagement within facilities. Bonus pay offered by the VA has no link to performance. One director of a VA facility received a bonus of $63,000. The VA is understandably under scrutiny.
It can be difficult to sue the federal government and win, but if you believe that you were injured in some way at a VA hospital, you do have rights. The easiest thing to do is to use Standard Form 95 Claim for Wrongful Death or Injury. Even though the form is fairly straightforward, it is always recommended that you consult an experienced medical malpractice attorney before you begin the process. You will essentially be fighting Uncle Sam, and that is almost never an easy thing to do.
Here are just a few examples of successful claims made against the VA:
- The VA paid $100,000 for failing to monitor a patient.
- The VA paid just under $500,000 in the mismanagement of a psychiatric patient.
- The VA paid $300,000 after misdiagnosing a patient.
- A failure to monitor a patient cost the VA $500,000.
It is possible to sue the VA and win. It is difficult to do it on your own. Do not assume that because you were injured in a federal hospital that you have no recourse. You are due the same standard of care as any private citizen in the country.
If you believe that you were injured or misdiagnosed at a VA hospital or any other hospital, you need the assistance of an experienced medical malpractice attorney. Call our offices today and let us review your case at no cost to you. We are here to assist you as you begin to put the pieces of your life back together. Call now.