Malpractice at American Lake Veterans Hospital
American Lake Veterans Hospital in Tacoma, Washington was founded in 1923 to provide neurological care for World War I veterans. Since then, the facilities have expanded to include general care, psychiatric services, surgical treatments, and nursing home services for US veterans and their immediate families. The hospital also offers medical training in geriatric medicine, optometry, and podiatry.
American Lake Veterans Hospital is managed by the Department of Veteran Affairs (VA) of Puget Sound, Washington. Veterans of all branches of the Armed Forces are treated there, whether they have served in a time of war or not. Like all VA hospitals, American Lake is obligated to provide reliable medical care to all eligible people. Unfortunately, as in hospitals of all kinds, errors are sometimes made.
VA Hospitals and Medical Malpractice
A doctor or other healthcare provider commits medical malpractice when he or she fails to act according to the standards of his or her field. This can include simple mistakes like misreading a chart, major errors like performing the wrong kind of surgery, and even deliberate actions like failure to get a patient’s informed consent to treatment.
Victims of medical malpractice can seek compensation for their injuries in most cases. However, the issue is very complicated for patients of a VA hospital. Under the Federal Tort Claims Act, a lawsuit filed against the Department of Veteran Affairs is considered a lawsuit against the United States. Such claims are considered by a federal judge, not a jury, and can be very difficult to win.
If you or a member of your family has been injured by a negligent military doctor, you need the advice and representation of an experienced attorney. Our Washington military claims lawyers can help you develop a plan of action and fight for your legal rights.
Contact Us
The statute of limitations for a VA hospital claim is two years, beginning with the discovery of your injury. If you are interested in pursuing legal action against a careless military doctor, you need to take action now. Contact Washington military hospital claims attorneys Fuller & Fuller at 800-570-4878.