Arizona Man Gets $2.5 Million in Lawsuit Against VA

Last June, we shared news about claims of medical malpractice and cover-ups at the Phoenix Veterans’ Affairs (VA) Health Care System. Earlier this week, a man who received treatment at the VA hospital in Phoenix was awarded $2.5 million from a judge. We’ll talk about the specifics of the case in this issue.

The Case at a Glance

When he was examined, the victim – who served 18 years in the U.S. Army – was not referred to a urologist for further testing after the nurse practitioner found abnormalities in his prostate. Rather, it was 11 months later while being seen by a VA doctor that the victim was told that he had stage-IV prostate cancer. The victim later underwent a host of surgeries and therapies related to his cancer. The U.S. Magistrate Judge in the case ruled that the nurse practitioner had violated standard of care by not ordering more testing for the victim and referring him to a urologist. The victim is now 46, and his life expectancy is five additional years.

Serious Problems at VA

As we noted in June, when whistleblowers came forward about long scheduling delays in doctor appointments for veterans, it was learned that the problems weren’t limited by state borders. Various audits and investigations that followed showed that the problem was systemic throughout the VA nationwide. The backlash was so intense, then-VA Secretary Eric Shinseki was forced to resign. Equally disturbing was news shared by the New York Daily News about legal settlements made by the VA to settle medical malpractice cases having tippled since 2011. Specifically, settlement payouts soared dramatically from $98 million in 2011 to $338 million in 2015.

Are You a Victim of Medical Malpractice? The Oswalt Law Group in Arizona Can Help You Receive Fair Compensation

If you have been the victim of medical malpractice, you’ve got enough on your mind. Worrying about lost wages and medical bills is the last thing you need to be concerned about. Call The Oswalt Group today for a free consultation; our number is (602) 225-2222.