FRITH LAW FIRM SETTLES
MEDICAL MALPRACTICE CASE
AGAINST VETERANS ADMINISTRATION
We can all agree the men and women of our armed forces deserve the very best in medical care upon returning home, can't we?
Although our Veterans deserve medical care that is of the best quality, if you have seen or read the news this year, you know that has not been the case: Lawsuits for failing to clean colonoscopy tubes, Walter Reed hospital infested with rats, and the list goes on and on.
Here in Southwest Virginia, our firm has successfully represented a Veteran of the Iraq war who underwent an orthopedic surgery stemming from an injury sustained while in the military. The surgeon (who had been denied privileges at a local hospital because of a substance abuse problem prior to being hired by the VA) snipped a blood vessel during surgery. After the surgery, our client and his wife noticed significant swelling near the incision. Despite pain medication, our client suffered extreme pain immediately after the surgery.
Although the surgeon tried to discharge our client, his wife (thank god for her tenacity) refused to leave the VA stating her husband was in too much pain to go home.
Within the first 24 hours, our client's wife had researched his symptoms and informed the orthopedic staff she thought her husband was suffering from compartment syndrome. Compartment syndrome occurs when blood begins to fill the space between your nerves and bones after surgery, and eventually the pressure begins to press on the nerves causing nerve damage.
Despite two days of insisting her husband was suffering from this medical complication, the staff did little but monitor the wound and provide pain medication.
Finally, after 48 hours when blood began to seep through the staples in his leg, a physician assistant encouraged a 2nd doctor to perform an emergency fasciotomy to relieve the pressure. Unfortunately, the delay in treatment caused permanent nerve damage.
This young Iraqi veteran, just over 30 years old, is now on pain killers for the rest of his life and suffers from a dropped foot - which prevents him from enjoying many activities he loves, like running, basketball etc.
Although we cannot undo the injury, at least he has enough money now to pay for the pain medication and possible future surgery.
After all, you can't blame him for not wanting to go back to the VA for follow up care, can you?
Claim: Federal Tort Claim Act
Date of Loss: August 2007
Settlement: May 2009
Amount: $300,000.00
If you are evaluating a matter involving medical malpractice, nursing home abuse, or business litigation, do not hesitate to call us.
T. Daniel Frith, III
Frith Law Firm PC |
| Do you know what a Nitendo Wii is? We do too. |
Trial Lawyers Across the Country Show "Wii" Care
The first three Mondays in August, 53 law firms from 25 states will band together to donate more than 60 Nintendo Wii gaming systems to rehabilitation centers, nursing homes and hospitals all over America. The firms are all members of a consumer safety community called InjuryBoard (www.injuryboard.com). With more than half its membership participating, InjuryBoard hopes the event will inspire attorneys everywhere to give back to their communities.
Locally, Frith Law Firm will be donating a Wii system to a local non-profit rehabilitation facility.
Why Wii?
The Wii was selected because of a recent trend in rehabilitation toward a new treatment technique known as "Wiihab." Wiihab makes use of the gaming system's unique, live motion play to offer patients a fun and less painful exercise medium.
The InjuryBoard firms, all of whom represent victims of serious accidents, hope that their donations will ease the recovery of those in need and will help patients find enjoyment in an otherwise painful and difficult process.
We will let you know how the Wii donation turns out! | |
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RECOMMENDED READING |
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Do you have a loved one who has received an early onset Alzheimer's diagnosis?
If so, or you serve clients with this diagnosis, you must read STILL ALICE by Lisa Genova.
Still Alice invites us into the lives of Alice and John Howland, two Harvard professors, forced to deal with Alice's diagnosis with Alzheimer's Disease at age 50. Although fictional, the family's struggle with the emotional and physical manifestations of the disease are very real.
I would encourage anyone in the medical field, or legal field to read this beautifully written book.
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July 23, 2009
Friends:
I have been handling medical negligence cases in Southwest Virginia for the last 27 years.
During that time, I have learned first hand that medical negligence cases are emotionally and financially demanding on everyone.
Of every 10 calls we receive from potential medical malpractice clients, we may review the records for 3. We generally seek expert support for about 1 case in every 10 calls, and only then file suit if the medical expert is supportive.
I share this only to communicate that clients will get individual attention at our firm. If they don't have a negligence case, we take the time to explain why their case cannot prevail under Virginia law.
If your clients, friends or family, have a question about a medical negligence case, please let us know how we can help.
Please also share our our new website www.frithlawfirm.com or our legalmedicine blog: http://legalmedicine.blogspot.com
Dan Frith
Frith Law Firm
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