Monterey, CA Veterans Administration Hospital Gives Man Very, Very Wrong Diagnosis

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A man has received a court-ordered payment of $60,000 from the Veterans Administration (VA) Medical Center after he was told he had just a few months to live in error.  The judge found that he suffered because of the VA physician's negligent failure to meet the standard of care when he gave the man an erroneous diagnosis of terminal cancer in 2009.  The man quit his job, sold his truck and bought a prearranged funeral service.  He threw a "last birthday" party for himself but when he started feeling fine he sought out a second opinion and found that he had only had a couple of mini-strokes from which he had recovered.  I can't imagine the pain and anguish this man went through and $60,000 certainly doesn't seem enough compensation for a horrible error like this, although at least he now knows his life isn't in danger.  This is an important lesson for us all.  If you are diagnosed with a serious illness, seek a second opinion!