Some Veteran Affairs clinics have been found to falsify records amid allegations that dozens of patients have died because of delays in medical treatments, according to a recent USA Today article.
Clerks at the Department of Veterans Affairs clinic in Fort Collins, Colorado were instructed to falsify appointment records so it appeared the small staff of doctors was seeing patients within the agency's goal of 14 days, according to the VA investigation. In reality, many of the 6,300 veterans treated at the outpatient clinic waited months to be seen.
Department officials revealed last month that 23 deaths of veterans were linked to delay cancer screenings dating back four years. A retired doctor recently alleged that 40 other veterans died at a VA hospital in Phoenix due to treatment delays.
Of the 9 million veterans the VA treats a year, the agency found that only 41% are seen within 14 days, down from 90% reported in 2012 under an old, now-abandoned measurement method. Read the full details here:
VA treatment records falsified, probe finds
The VA is supposed to take care of our soldiers medically, but they are not. In addition, when investigators begin looking into why, the VA is allegedly making it difficult to get to the bottom of how to take care of our armed forces.
If you or a family member believe you have a medical malpractice case, including a delay in diagnosis or treatment, contact Crandall & Pera Law today for a free case evaluation. Crandall & Pera Law is available to help answer your questions and guide you in determining your next steps.