degenerative arthritis Brain cancer

[broncovet]

I was just getting gas at my local corner gas station.  They had a photo of a Vet there, and asked for donations for his widow.  

Being a curious fellow, I had to ask.  She responded that the deceased got gas, soda, etc, there almost every evening.  He told her the Va had diagnosed "a pulled muscle" and sent him home.  

A couple months later VA diagnosed "headaches"..and sent him home.  

About 3 months later this Vet was dead from brain cancer.  

This is the VAMC I use.  I can see exactly why it happens.  

You get maybe 2 minutes with the doctor WHEN you can get an appointment.  Dont have several things wrong with you because they only want to hear about "one", your "major" complaint.  They always ask me "Why am I here?"  

I had to fight the VA for 2 years to get them to take a special Xray to diagnose a leg length discrepency.  

My physical Therapist had asked me over 2 years ago, "Did you know one leg is longer than the other?"  

No.  I did not. 

So, I finally got an appointment after about 5 months with an orthopedic doc who said that the PT was nuts, I did not have a leg length discrepency, and the only way to know for sure was a special X ray of both legs with a yardstick taped on the xray table.  

I said, Ok, lets do it.   The doc responded, "The VA does not do that xray".

But he sent me for a smaller, less determinative knee xray.  

While I was there, the x ray tech asked why, if I have different length legs, did the doc not order this special xray?  

I responded the doc said, "Va does not do those."   

She said, "Well, Im an Xray tech and I do that xray about 3 times a month."  

So, the doc was lying.    I finally complained to my patient advocate (shouldnt the doctor advocate for his patients?), and did get the applicable xray.  Sure enough it showed degenerative arthritis with one leg longer than the other.  

So,. I had to put up with this pain for an extra 2 years.   

I think I will contact the brain cancer widow and suggest she sue the VAMC that failed to diagnose his brain cancer until it was to late, and strongly suggest an attorney.  

You see, VA will pull this stuff as long as they can get away with it.  

[wablackwell]

Thanks Broncovet, I do not trust the VA anymore. I though my VA primary care provider was doctor. I though wrong. I later learn she was a physician assistant. Since I am retired from the service I now try to use my Tricare and see non VA doctors. Especially when it come to mental health.

[flores97]

Broncovet, absolutely, that's clearly an 1151, correct, or malpractice by that vamc. Hopefully when the widow wins-and she will win-that vamc will have to clean up its act. I had my va doc tell me two months ago she ordered an abdominal ultrasound, (after two years of complaining of abdominal and chest pain), and i havent heard a word nor been scheduled for an appt. 

[Berta]

The surviving spouse will need a copy of his death certificate, autopsy results if an autopsy was done, ALL of his Medical records, VA and any private records, an IM0 and then a lawyer if she pursues FTCA.

If the SOL (Statute of Limits for FTCA) runs out she can still file a Section 1151 claim.

When the VA admitted to causing my husband's death, that news went through the local VAMC like wild fire and I was sought out by many vets who thought they had a malpractice claim against either one of the  two same VA hospitals involved.

But not one of them ever pursued the 1151 and FTCA options as far as I know,and none of them really seemed to have a basis for their charges....

except the vet who came here a few weeks after his complete removal of his colon, a long standing friend of mine and I wrote a 1151 claim for him immediately . He didn't understand it at all.

The next time he came over , a few months later, (VA was faster in those days)he wanted me to interpret a letter he got from the VA.

It was a Section 1151 award, 100& P & T ...they had misdiagnosed advanced  colon cancer as hemorrhoids.For years!

It is not always that easy to assess 1151 right off the bat.

We have had a few vets here with evidence posted here of what appeared to me to be Prime facie evidence of malpractice.

Still, unless you have a strong medical background, and can assess medical acronyms, read blood chem reports, understand complex MRI results,  etc etc etc ...and decifer every single entry in a med rec, it is hard to even determine if a negligence /malpractice issue has occurred.

If it DID happen, it will be in the veteran's VA Med recs.

I knew the above veteran well and didn't even see his medical records until many years later.I also knew he had been diagnosed and treated for hemorrhoids for many years and suddenly had surgery and then a colostomy bag....when he was transferred to a different VAMC...

He didn't want to file FTCA  and was well within the 2 year SOL, but if he did I could have helped him with that.

I am glad you will try to help the widow Broncovet .It does sounds like VA screwed up but only his VA medical records and the Death Cert and any autopsy findings will reveal the proof of that.

And that almost always will take an IMO doctor's opinion.

 

 

[flores97]

Bronco, i commend you for wanting to help this vets widow. I know you have vastly more experience with claims than i do but if you need any help whatsoever, i would be more than glad too. There is a veteran here on hadit, is it Meddac? He worked for the VA in many capacities, he may have some suggestions as well. 

[Berta]

Our Blog radio show today covered 1151/FTCA issues ,with Dr. Bash and John Dorle,  (they covered Many other topics as well)

The show was great and I am putting a link for it into our Sec 1151, FTCA forum.

http://community.hadit.com/#gsc.tab=0

 

 The little arrow on the left should bring the show into your PC