VA Hospital Delay Lawsuits

Families of veterans who died waiting for care may file Veterans Administration hospital medical malpractice claims

Recent media reports and government audits have revealed that overly long wait times and delays in VA hospitals nationwide are needlessly killing our nation’s veterans. Families of veterans who died waiting for care are filing medical malpractice claims against the system that failed their loved ones. They are seeking answers and to hold wrongdoers accountable for the preventable deaths of veterans.

While many veterans receive excellent care at VA facilities, medical malpractice and negligence is sadly not a new problem with Veterans Administration hospitals. Over the last decade, the Department of Veterans Affairs has paid millions annually to settle medical malpractice lawsuits. In 2013, payouts reached a 12-year high when the VA paid $91.7 million to resolve medical malpractice claims. Already in 2014, the VA has spent over $50 million on medical malpractice claims. At The Cochran Firm, D.C., our attorneys have litigated medical malpractice cases against VA hospitals long before the present wait list scandal hit the national news.

The following are some notable payments made to resolve VA medical malpractice lawsuits:

• $17.5 million for failure to delay treatment (2012 in Philadelphia)
• $5.7 million for failure to diagnose and treat (2012 in Memphis)
• $4 million for a 2007 claim in Philadelphia
• $3.8 million for lack of informed consent (2010 in Los Angeles)
• $3.5 million for wrong diagnosis and medication (2010 in Marion, Illinois)

The VA system has come under fire for backlogs and lengthy wait times that have left veterans without medical care in some cases. A recently issued audit report found that more than 57,000 veterans waited 90 days or more for their first VA medical appointment and 64,000 may have never received appointments at all despite enrolling in the VA system.

At The Cochran Firm, D.C., we are investigating medical malpractice and other legal claims related to delayed diagnosis for failure to diagnose, amputations due to inability to receive medical care, and other catastrophic injuries due to delays in VA medical care. We provide legal representation to veterans and their families, including those who received substandard care at Washington DC VA Medical Center, Baltimore VA Medical Center, Hampton VA Medical Center, Hunter Holmes McGuire VA Medical Center, and Salem VA Medical Center.

Please contact us to receive a free case evaluation with our team of legal professionals. All initial inquiries carry no charge or obligation and are completely confidential.