Noteboom The Law Firm

U.S. Veteran Awarded $275,000 Following VA Surgical Mistake

According to a Reuter’s article, Robert Sanner won a $250,000 lawsuit against his local Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) hospital, which had been filed when he found out he had been the victim of a surgical mistake after he underwent kidney surgery.

Sanner returned 2 times to the Louis Stokes Cleveland VA Medical Center and was readmitted both times because he was suffering from abdominal pain and discomfort. Doctors scanned his body and discovered 2 11/14” towels still inside of him.

His initial surgery occurred in May of 2008 and the towels were removed in a second surgery in August of 2008, the day following the scan. Sanner, however, had to have a third surgery as well to repair a hernia. Such a procedure is common in people who have had more than one abdominal surgery.

Considering these surgeries and the resulting complications, Sanner was unable to work for almost 12 months following his initial surgery. Had Sanner’s surgical team paid more attention to detail, this would not have happened. There was no argument from the government that the entire surgical team, to include the doctors and nurses, breached their owed surgical standard of care by abandoning the towels inside Sanner.

If you are a U.S. veteran who has been denied standard of care, disability compensation or have not yet applied for benefits from the VA, a South Florida disability attorney from LaVan & Neidenberg is ready to help. To learn if you are entitled to certain programs and benefits contact our veteran’s disability rights firm today – 1-888-234-5758.