While many think of the physical dangers involved for soldiers who serve in Iraq and Afghanistan, some forget that the volatile situations put soldiers at high risk for Post Traumatic Stress Disorder. It can be difficult for veterans to reach out and ask the VA for the help they need. But in one recent Pennsylvania case, a soldier did reach out, and the failure of the hospital to provide the help requested, led to serious consequence for the soldier and his wife.

During a four month period, the man and his wife sought treatment from the VA hospital multiple times, but he was not seen by a physician. Instead, he was medicated with a highly addictive substance, provided by other healthcare providers, that was not effective in treating his symptoms. The medication actually led to the man to self-medicate and it was only when he broke into a pharmacy that his condition was given the attention it deserved.

The attention was too little too late and the man's condition declined to the point where he is now considered permanently disabled. In the medical malpractice lawsuit the man and his wife brought against the VA, a Pennsylvania judge awarded the soldier and his wife $3.7 million for a combination of pain and suffering, and lost wages throughout their lifetimes.

While the judge made a point to mention that his ruling was not intended to make an example of or criticize the VA as a whole, it does show the importance of attending to mental health issues when a person seeks treatment for them. One of the biggest reasons that the medical malpractice suit yielded such a large settlement was because the soldier and his wife did reach out, but were not taken seriously.

Across the country, there are hospitals that do not take the time to investigate both physical and psychological ailments that are reported by patients. The delay in getting the proper diagnosis in these cases due to negligence of hospital staff can be a serious detriment to a person's quality of life, and in some cases to their life itself.

Source: The Legal Intelligencer, "Pennsylvania veteran awarded $3.7 M in suit against VA," Saranac Hale Spencer, Jan. 21, 2013