Syracuse Medical Malpractice and Personal Injury Lawyer Blog
VA hospitals have the important role of serving United States veterans’ medical needs. As a federal government program, it’s subject to different laws, rules, and regulations than private hospitals or surgical centers. In an unfortunate news report, there are widespread allegations of medical malpractice, involving physicians from VA hospitals. The report notes that physicians who commit malpractice or fall beneath the standard of care are reassigned or asked to resign, and no report is allegedly made on their medical record.The news report revolves around one doctor in particular who allegedly drilled the wrong screws into one patient’s ankles, incorrectly severed another patient’s tendon, and performed unnecessary surgeries on veterans. Deposition testimony from the VA hospital revealed that he was considered a “dangerous surgeon” by the hospital surgery chief. However, the VA allegedly did not terminate his employment with the VA or report him to a national database or licensing board. Instead, the doctor was allowed to resign and establish a private practice in New York.
New York hospital malpractice claims against VA hospitals are treated differently from claims for malpractice against private companies. Instead, federal law governs the procedures for filing claims against the United States government. The federal tort claims act disclaims governmental immunity and sets forth the procedures for patients to recover compensation for negligent medical acts. Some of the key distinctions from non-governmental malpractice claims include a two-year statute of limitations for claims, all claims being processed through federal court, and the claimant being required to file a federal tort claims act form before any case can proceed. Sometimes there are circumstances in which there are providers who are not employees of the VA who may have also provided negligent care. In that situation, people could have concurrent state and federal actions.
Although the investigative study raises medical negligence issues at VA hospitals, many doctors who were deemed to have acted negligently were allowed to resign and began to work in private practice. The report notes that in many instances, regulatory authorities were not made aware of the doctors’ negligence and were allowed to continue the same sort of practice once they left the VA hospital. The report not only shows the risk of medical negligence occurring in VA hospitals but also uncovers statute of limitations issues. The VA hospital’s processes for notifying patients that a surgical error had occurred took so long that it meant that the statute of limitations had already passed, and filing a claim was no longer an option for at least one person interviewed for the report.
Hospital malpractice can cause unexpected yet devastating consequences in your or a loved one’s life. If you were injured as a result of hospital negligence, DeFrancisco & Falgiatano are Syracuse hospital malpractice lawyers who can assist you in pursuing compensation for your injuries. Call us at 833-200-2000 or contact us via our online form.
More Blog Posts:
Surgery Double-Booking Investigation Underscores Potential for New York Medical Malpractice Claims, Syracuse Medical Malpractice and Personal Injury Lawyer Blog, October 17, 2017
Medical Malpractice Mandatory Arbitration Clause Case Denied Review by United States Supreme Court, Syracuse Medical Malpractice and Personal Injury Lawyer Blog, October 13, 2017
