Colson Hicks Eidson partner Deborah J. Gander has obtained a medical malpractice verdict of $1.25 million on behalf of a man who contracted Hepatitis C from a contaminated endoscope.
In 2007, 69-year-old Robert Metzler, an Air Force Veteran, underwent a colonoscopy and lesion removal procedure at the Miami VA Healthcare Center. Following the procedure, Metzler received a notice from the Department of Veterans Affairs stating that certain medical equipment used during endoscopy and colonoscopy procedures had been contaminated and advised him to get tested for certain blood borne illnesses. Metzler was tested and found to have contracted Hepatitis C.
The Department of Veterans Affairs conducted an investigation and found that Metzler was one of thousands of veterans who received colonoscopies with improperly-cleaned equipment between 2004 and 2009 at VA hospitals in Miami, Tennessee and Georgia.
“We hope that this verdict will go a long way in promoting quality health care for our veterans seeking care at Veteran administration and military hospitals and clinics throughout our country,” said Gander. “The men and women that serve our country in this capacity deserve the best care; not negligent, sloppy, and dangerous medical care.”
For more information about medical negligence, contact the attorneys at Colson Hicks Eidson at 305-476-7400.