Man Treated for Non-Existent Lymphoma Files Federal Lawsuit

According to the St. Louis Post-Dispatch, a federal civil suit has been filed in St. Louis by a Florida man who underwent several months of both radiation therapy and chemotherapy at the John Cochran VA Medical Center only to be informed that that he had never had cancer to begin with.

Although details are lacking, it appears the man, Dustin A. Brooks, had been treated for a subtype of lymphoma between July and November of 2009. It wasn't until later the following year that the hospital told him that he never had the disease to begin with, but that he was now at risk of developing cancer on account of the treatments he received.

The suit alleges pain, suffering and mental anguish; he also charges that the treatment made him sterile.

In 2011, Brooks demanded a $750,000 settlement from the Veterans Administration and he rejected a 2012 offer from the VA of $150,000.

Problems related to the Cochran VA facility are not new. For example, in 2010 almost 2,000 veterans were told they might have been exposed to several viruses including HIV due to possible sterilization issues at the hospital. Thus far, no illnesses have been linked to the incident.

Source: St. Louis Post-Dispatch

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