The Philadelphia VA Medical Center has recently come under investigation after errors were discovered in the treatment plans administered to cancer patients.
The hospital has been running a treatment program for veterans suffering from prostate cancer since 2002. To date, 114 patients have been treated under this program, which was suspended last spring when an error in treatment procedures was detected.
The men in the program were undergoing brachytherapy, a process where iodine pellets are implanted in the prostate to destroy the cancer cells. This treatment is generally reserved for low-risk cases of prostate cancer.
Last spring, officials discovered that one patient had received a radiation dosage that was considerably lower than what was prescribed. This sparked an investigation into the hospital’s practices, which found that 55 of the 114 cancer patients received a dosage that was less than 80% of what was recommended.
The 55 men who received substandard treatment have been informed of the medical error. Currently, VA doctors are reviewing their medical histories to see if any additional measures need to be taken to mitigate possible damage caused by the treatment error.
To date, two men in the program have died. However, a hospital spokesman has stated that both deaths were not caused by their prostate cancer or by their treatment. Currently, there have not been any medical malpractice lawsuits filed by any of the veterans or their families.
If you have a medical malpractice claim in the Philadelphia, Pennsylvania area, please contact the law firm of Pomerantz Perlberger & Lewis LLP today for an initial consultation.
