Hospital pays millions to veteran in malpractice case
- November 27, 2013
Veterans in Dutchess County, New York and all around the nation are taking note of a ruling in a medical malpractice case that was filed against the John Cochran VA Hospital in St. Louis. The case involves a man who was left seriously disabled after receiving medical care at the hospital.
The 43-year-old man originally went to the veterans’ hospital because he was experiencing chest pains. Based on the recommendation of doctors, the man had a heart stent surgically inserted through his thigh. After the surgical site began to bleed and swell, the man was readmitted to the hospital to undergo an arterial repair procedure. During the surgery, the man lost a significant amount of blood, and doctors found that the surgical site had become infected. The amount of blood lost in the surgery left the man with a permanent brain injury, and the infection became so severe that the man’s leg had to be amputated.
The man’s brain injury left him with severe paralysis and a very limited ability to communicate. A judge in U.S. District court awarded the veteran and his wife, who have three children, a combined total of $8.3 million. According to reports, the John Cochran VA Medical Center has been plagued by claims of sub-par medical care in recent years, with accusations ranging from misdiagnosis and unnecessary treatments to issues with medication dosages and unsanitary conditions.
Those who have suffered a personal injury resulting from a medical mistake may benefit from a consultation with a legal professional. Attorneys working in the area of medical malpractice may be able to demonstrate negligence on the part of the medical facility and negotiate compensation for clients’ pain and suffering.
Source: St. Louis Today, “St. Louis man wins $8.3 million malpractice award against John Cochran VA hospital“, Blythe Berhard, November 19, 2013