Army veteran files medical malpractice suit after botched surgery

Veterans often have much to deal with when they return home from service. Even after many years, it can still be difficult for them to adjust. Many rely on VA hospitals and programs to help them readjust to everyday life. Unfortunately, as many Louisiana residents may know, some of these programs and hospitals are better than others. One army veteran has recently filed a medical malpractice suit against a veterans affairs hospital for mistakes made during a previous surgery.

The initial surgery was performed in 2013. Nearly four years later, the veteran returned to the VA hospital because he had continued to suffer from abdominal pain. Doctors took an X-ray of the area and discovered that a scalpel was the source of the patient’s discomfort.

Soon after the scalpel was discovered, the patient underwent surgery to remove it. It was later revealed by the doctors that the scalpel was the same one that would have been used in the previous surgery. The patient is seeking compensation for damages from the Department of Veterans Affairs as well as the hospital in which the surgery was performed.

Many people have been shocked an appalled by the details of this case, maybe more so because this case involves a veteran. Consulting a local attorney could benefit Louisiana residents who believe that they may be victims of medical malpractice. Some cases may involve injuries suffered by the patient due to mistakes made by nurses or doctors. Others may be related to a patient’s continued pain and suffering caused by a doctor’s failure to recognize the underlying cause. Attorneys would be able to help their clients receive compensation for additional medical costs or loss of income as well as for their pain and suffering.

Source: phillytrib.com, “Vet sues VA over scalpel left in body after surgery“, Jan. 18, 2018