Many residents in the Houston area have served in the armed forces. It is important that veterans receive the medical care they were promised, deserve and require. However, in several cases, veterans are receiving sub-par care that is causing major medical concerns. The failure to follow acceptable standards is unacceptable for any patient, especially our veterans after all they have done for our country.
Across the United States, there are many reports concerning VA hospitals and their care of veterans. A VA hospital in Wisconsin was criticized because a psychiatrist working there prescribed dangerous amounts of painkillers to many patients, which resulted in one death.
In Georgia, a doctor was accused of overmedicating female veterans with psychotropic drugs that caused many of them to lose their jobs. Furthermore, in San Diego, a veteran was prescribed an antacid in the emergency room and sent home. The next day, he tragically died of a heart attack in a civilian hospital.
Many cases of medical mismanagement include doctors who overprescribe psychiatric medication and pain medication. There are instances of doctors who prescribe controlled substances at a much higher rate than their peers. There are also many reports of a failure to diagnose surgical errors.
Our veterans deserve the best medical care. There is no excuse for the countless number of medical errors that have occurred in VA hospitals across the country. If a veteran believes they have suffered because of a medical mistake made in a VA hospital, they may have legal options and remedies. An attorney can review medical records and determine what happened to cause the injury. Compensation may be available for unexpected medical costs, pain and suffering, and other damages.
Source: MilitaryTimes.com, “VA mismanagement, malpractice detailed in reports“, Patricia Kime, May 17, 2015