A Vietnam veteran and Chicago-area resident will receive a $12 million settlement from the federal government in a medical malpractice case.
John Johnson is a Vietnam combat veteran who served in the Army from 1970 to 1971. In 2007, Johnson was admitted to Edward Hines Jr. Veterans Administration Hospital in Hines, Illinois for oral surgery. After he was put under anesthesia, Johnson went into cardiac arrest, which resulted in brain damage. Johnson filed a medical malpractice lawsuit against the hospital.
According to the lawsuit, doctors did not prepare adequately for the surgery and failed to properly monitor Johnson’s heart condition after he received anesthesia.
Johnson’s attorney said that the $12 million settlement will be used to cover Johnson’s medical and living expenses, and that his family is looking for a house that will accommodate his daily care needs. Johnson’s attorney said that this was one of the largest malpractice settlements paid out by the U.S. government.
The Hines V.A. Hospital is a 471-bed facility, located on 147 acres 12 miles west of downtown Chicago. The hospital also operates six community-based outpatient clinics in the Chicago area. In fiscal year 2010, the hospital served more than 600,000 patients with a budget of more than $510 million.