The Veterans Administration Hospitals (“VA”) should be a blessing to those who have valiantly served our country, and often continue to serve. Veterans deserve a special thank you for having risked their lives to protect our way of life. Veterans, in turn, are grateful that a system exists especially to help take care of them. That feeling of appreciation is short-lived, however, when severe or even fatal injury occurs because of Medical Malpractice in a VA Hospital. While well-conceived, the Veterans Health Care System is often woefully underfunded and short-staffed. While there are many excellent, dedicated Physicians and Health Care Workers in VA Hospitals, some are frankly not “top-notch.” Given the relatively low salaries they can pay, VA Hospitals may hire those who have trouble finding Health Care jobs elsewhere. Unfortunately, this may result in deficient Patient Care, and even outright Medical Malpractice upon those who have served our Country well.
Furthermore, VA Hospitals are by and large teaching hospitals, where young Doctors learn the ropes. Although it is essential to train new Doctors, the “rotation system” (where new Doctors switch patients monthly) fragments the crucial continuity of care — increasing the chances of “dropping the ball” on any particular patient. Moreover, the new Doctors often have primary responsibility for managing Patients — unlike the Private Hospital setting, where one’s Attending Physician oversees care during the entire admission. Having a new Doctor every month is a dangerous situation for Veterans with complex medical problems — and not surprisingly leads to frequent claims of Malpractice in VA Hospitals.
Although they are Government Funded Hospitals, the Standard of Care in VA Hospitals is no different than at any Private Hospital. There is no excuse to give Veterans inadequate Medical Care. Recognizing this, and in a continuing effort to improve care for Veterans, the Government allows itself to be sued for Medical Malpractice committed in VA Hospitals. While Veterans and their Families prefer a good medical outcome to a lawsuit — and one cannot have both at the same time — making a legal claim is often the only way to get compensation for Veterans and/or their Families following Malpractice in a VA Hospital.
When pursuing a claim, it is crucial to retain an experienced Attorney who knows about the special issues involved in bringing a claim for Injuries and/or Wrongful Death in the VA System. The Government has special rules regarding such claims, and they must be followed for the claim to prevail. The law is very different for claims in State Court against civilian Doctors and Hospitals — and one’s Attorney must understand these differences and act accordingly while pursuing a successful claim for Malpractice against the VA Hospital System.
If you or a loved one has been a victim of VA malpractice, do not wait. Contact Goldberg Legal today for legal guidance and support. Let us help you navigate this difficult journey and secure the justice and compensation you need to move forward. Call us at (440) 519-9900 or fill out our online contact form to schedule your consultation.
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