VA Hospital Malpractice Lawsuit Filed Over Wrongful Death of Iraq War Vet
The wife of an Iraqi war veteran has filed a medical malpractice lawsuit against a Veterans Administration (VA) hospital in Utah, alleging that her husband was given a lethal drug cocktail after medical staff failed to properly assess what drugs he was already taking.
The complaint was filed last month by Kathy Anglesey against George E. Whalen Veterans Administration Hospital in Salt Lake City, Utah, and some of its doctors. The lawsuit claims that her husband, Chris Anglesey, died due to a medication mistake that occurred when he was prescribed a combination of drugs after a knee injury last summer.
Chris Anglesey was a U.S. Army veteran who was partially disabled during the war in Iraq after his vehicle was hit by a rocket-propelled grenade while he was trying to save the crew of a downed helicopter. He was awarded the Bronze Star after he suffered a traumatic brain injury and post traumatic stress disorder, which resulted in a partial permanent disability.
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Learn MoreThe VA hospital malpractice lawsuit alleges that the doctors did not closely look at the risk of interactions between the drugs he was already taking and those they prescribed. An autopsy determined that Anglesey died of a pulmonary embolism and mixed drug intoxication. The autopsy found Celexa, morphine, Ambien, hydromorphone, promethazine and Remeron in his blood stream.
His wife first filed a claim through the U.S. Department of Veteran Affairs, which is required before a plaintiff can file a lawsuit against the VA for medical malpractice. However, the VA failed to meet the six month requirement to respond to the claim and she proceeded to file the wrongful death lawsuit in federal court.
9 Comments
JerryMarch 17, 2016 at 3:23 pm
I'm a Veteran that has been denied Dental even though I'm being treated for a disease as stated in VA form IB 10-442. A Class action suit should be filed by all people that lost people because of wrongful death or denied medical treatment. The more people the better.
GENEVAJune 9, 2014 at 8:59 pm
APPROMATELY 14 YEARS AGO MY HUSBAND WAS BEING TR ETED AT THE ATLANTAVAMC. HE KEPT COMPLAINING ABT. ACHES AND PAIN. HE WAS TREATED FOR SEVERAL YEARS FOR SEVERE ARTRITIS.INSTEAD OF GETTING BETTER.HE WAS GETTING WORSE.HE WAS GETTING WORST FROM ALL OF THOSE PAIN KILLERSTHE MEDINCINE GAVE HIM CIRROSIS OF THE LIVER.NEVER DIAGNOIS CANCER.HE KEPT TELLING THEM SOMETHING ELSE HADTO B WRONG WITH HIM,IN2007 [Show More]APPROMATELY 14 YEARS AGO MY HUSBAND WAS BEING TR ETED AT THE ATLANTAVAMC. HE KEPT COMPLAINING ABT. ACHES AND PAIN. HE WAS TREATED FOR SEVERAL YEARS FOR SEVERE ARTRITIS.INSTEAD OF GETTING BETTER.HE WAS GETTING WORSE.HE WAS GETTING WORST FROM ALL OF THOSE PAIN KILLERSTHE MEDINCINE GAVE HIM CIRROSIS OF THE LIVER.NEVER DIAGNOIS CANCER.HE KEPT TELLING THEM SOMETHING ELSE HADTO B WRONG WITH HIM,IN2007 HE LEFT ATL.VAMC WENT DIRECTLY 2 CRAWFORDLONG HOSP.& HR. LATER THIS HOSP. FOUND THAT HIS ENTIRE BODY HAD METASTICZE WITH CANCER.LIVED 10 DAYS THERE.DIED MAR.25,2007.THE DR.SAID THEY HAD TO NO HE HAD CANCER,AND SAID THAT THE VA. LET THIS POOR MAN DIED.HEFELT THIS WAS NEGLECT.NO LAWYER WOULD LISTEN TO ME, AND SAID THAT IT IS HARD GOING AGAINST THE GOVT.I DID FIND JONNY CRAWFORD LAWFIRM WAS WILLING TO TAKE THE CASE, BUT THE STATUE OF LIMITATIONS HAD EXPIRED.(2 YRS. FOR GEORGIA).I HAVE ALL OF ATLANTA VA MEDICAL REPORT AS WELL AS CRAWFORDLONG. WHEN I APPLIED FOR BENEFITS IN ATLANTA,GA .THE AMERICAN LEGION CALLED ME, AND I WAS TOLD THERE IS NO NEED TO TRY TO APPLY MR. BETTIES SIGNED HIS BENEFITS OVER TO THEM. I ASKED THEM TO SEND ME A COPY OF WHAT HE SAID. HE SAID THAT HE COULDNT, BUT THEY RECEIVED $200,00. FROM HIM.ITWAS SAD I THE WAY MY HUSBAND DIED.MARCH 25,2014 HAS BEEN 7 YRS SINCE HE DIED.NO ONE LISTEN TO WHAT WAS HAPPENING. I HAVE ALL OF HIS MEDICAL RECORDS
janetMay 20, 2014 at 3:33 pm
my husband died from long cancer waiting for the va to treat him he was first told that he had congestion then later when he got worse he went to another hospital they found the cancer. took him back to the va they took x-rays said yes he did have cancer sent him home because they were to busy and did not have room for him. they said they would call with an appointment for him it was not for a[Show More]my husband died from long cancer waiting for the va to treat him he was first told that he had congestion then later when he got worse he went to another hospital they found the cancer. took him back to the va they took x-rays said yes he did have cancer sent him home because they were to busy and did not have room for him. they said they would call with an appointment for him it was not for a month. they would not even return my calls when i tried to get him in sooner, he died the day of his appointment in another hospital.
green tNovember 5, 2012 at 8:17 am
my 43 year old husband sfc airborne mil police died at home last oct. He under went a back surgery and was released home the next day. The va has him on oxy,hydro,tramadol,the list is mind blowing. My persian war veteran rec incomp care .shame on what the va has become
PatrickAugust 29, 2012 at 11:29 pm
My father SGT Patrick F. Anderson passed away Feb. 9 2010. His story was almost the same as this one he had a knee injury and another brain injury in the result of going to The Desert Storm War. When he passed Ambien was found in his system
beckyAugust 10, 2012 at 4:36 am
i recently filed a form 95 tort lawsuit against the us govt and va for negligance in the wrongful death of my oly son 30 yr old robert us army soider who was 100 % disable from iraq and i need a lawyer in fl to pick this case up when the va denies my claim related to sucicide/overdose rate mulitoxity and cover up by the va and army
V.A.B.February 29, 2012 at 12:50 am
This lawsuits are so upsetting. I am a Veteran myself and am practically going crazy trying to get some sort of treatment before it is too late. I have been peeing blood for well over a year and the VA has yet to figure out why. I took my radiology films to another Doctor where he said my kidneys are covered in what appear to be malignant tumors. I told my VA doctors this and they have completely [Show More]This lawsuits are so upsetting. I am a Veteran myself and am practically going crazy trying to get some sort of treatment before it is too late. I have been peeing blood for well over a year and the VA has yet to figure out why. I took my radiology films to another Doctor where he said my kidneys are covered in what appear to be malignant tumors. I told my VA doctors this and they have completely disregarded it. They say they do not have enough evidence to do a biopsy that is so dangerous. Instead they load me up on pain medications. My fear is that why I am going through now will end up how your stories have. You would think they would take better care of the men and women who served our country.
LaureenSeptember 7, 2011 at 9:46 pm
My husband walked into a VA hospital in Gainesville, Florida. Drug IV overhydrated, drug morhine in 60 ml. plus others ...They killed my husband because a RICH FAMILY NEEDED A KIDNEY. The government is going to cut disablility,100% veterans by civil conspiracy. Selling organs. I want to know how will justice ever be served when they even alter medical records at the VA. I took pictures of every[Show More]My husband walked into a VA hospital in Gainesville, Florida. Drug IV overhydrated, drug morhine in 60 ml. plus others ...They killed my husband because a RICH FAMILY NEEDED A KIDNEY. The government is going to cut disablility,100% veterans by civil conspiracy. Selling organs. I want to know how will justice ever be served when they even alter medical records at the VA. I took pictures of every IV bag and they are not in his records now. Doctors are gone. The names of Doctors never present on record instead.
PJ SnyderSeptember 3, 2011 at 8:29 pm
Currently, I am awaiting a response from an SF-95, filed last month for wrongful death of my husband, against the PHX AZ, VAMC. My husband, John A. Snyder, VN / USMC was overdose by psychiatric drugs. While he suffered a drug-induced delirium, mis-diagnosed for Lithium toxicity, he was given : Seroquel IV,Resperidal, Lithium, and Perphenazine, and Ativan. As a result of this deadly, incompeta[Show More]Currently, I am awaiting a response from an SF-95, filed last month for wrongful death of my husband, against the PHX AZ, VAMC. My husband, John A. Snyder, VN / USMC was overdose by psychiatric drugs. While he suffered a drug-induced delirium, mis-diagnosed for Lithium toxicity, he was given : Seroquel IV,Resperidal, Lithium, and Perphenazine, and Ativan. As a result of this deadly, incompetant drugging he suffered, acute respiratory distress, and was on a ventilator for (9) days...he later died at home after suffering from undiagnosed, and non-treatment of a heart, lung disease and anorexia nervosa. After (3) months of hospitalization...his condition worsened and he was D/C home, where he suffered a sudden death, and accident. When chronic disease is untreated, death is inevitable. the VAMC, records indicate, my husband suffered from pneumonia, and there was no mention of the other serious ailments.