Colorado VA Update: $15 Million paid to-date for delays in medical treatment

Back in July this blog covered the investigation of the Office of the Medical Inspector for Veterans Affairs into a Fort Collins VA outpatient clinic for medical malpractice (see Fort Collins VA Clinic Under Fire for Falsifying Medical Records, Delaying Treatment). Clerks at the clinic were allegedly instructed to falsify appointment records to make it appear that patients were seen within the agency’s timeline goal of 14 days, when in reality patients had to wait several months to be seen by a doctor.

Since our post in July, more than 400 claims have been filed against the VA for providing substandard healthcare and committing medical malpractice through unreasonable delays and serious medical errors. Close to $15 million in damages has already been awarded to Colorado veterans based on lawsuits filed.

Examples of medical malpractice revealed by VA documents include:

• Wrongful removal of a patient’s prostrate due to a mix-up of patient records
• Failure to diagnose and treat a retinal detachment in a timely manner, resulting in the loss of vision to a patient’s right eye
• Surgical clamp left inside patient’s chest after triple bypass surgery
• Improperly performed penile prostheses operation, resulting in severe pain
• Improper intubation before surgery, leading to a lack of oxygen and permanent brain damage

 If you or someone you know has been subjected to similar malpractice by the VA, ranging from unreasonable delays in treatment to serious medical mistakes, contact Paulsen & Armitage, LLC in Denver for a free consultation with experienced Colorado medical malpractice attorneys.

Fort Collins VA Clinic Under Fire for Falsifying Medical Records, Delaying Treatment

A recent investigation by the Veterans Affairs Office of the Medical Inspector uncovered a practice at a VA outpatient clinic in Fort Collins where clerks at the clinic were taught to falsify appointment records to make it look like patients were being seen within the agency goal of 14 days, when in actuality many patients waited months to be seen. A copy of the probe's findings was provided to USA TODAY, which wrote a piece on the investigation. The Chicago Tribune has also picked up on the story and reports on the calls from legislators for criminal investigations into the actions at the VA.

This news is particularly disturbing in light of recent allegations by a former doctor and whistleblower that dozens of veterans died due to delays in treatment at a Phoenix VA hospital. This matter is currently under investigation by the VA Office of Inspector General, but it includes claims that workers there were falsifying records to mask delays in treatment much like the OMI found present in Fort Collins. Unreasonable delays in diagnosis or treatment may be considered medical malpractice, with doctors and hospitals potentially liable for any serious personal injury or wrongful death that results.