Boston VA sued over veteran's preventable death

The family of a veteran from Natick, Massachusetts, has filed a wrongful death lawsuit against the VA Boston Healthcare System. They claim that William “Joey” Howard, a 74-year-old Vietnam War veteran, died from preventable cancer because his doctors failed to inform him about his diagnosis. Howard was diagnosed with lung cancer in October 2021 but was not informed about his results for nearly a year. This delay led to the cancer spreading and eventually resulted in his death from both lung and esophageal cancer in May 2023. The lawsuit states that Howard suffered a significant delay in treatment, which contributed to his premature death. His lawyer criticized the VA, stating that veterans should receive high-quality medical care. He emphasized that Howard would have avoided suffering and death if the doctors had simply informed him of his condition. The lawsuit claims that VA staff did not ensure Howard received timely referrals to oncology after his positive cancer diagnosis. Howard had been admitted to the Boston VA Hospital in September 2021 for shortness of breath. Although tests indicated cancer, the doctors reportedly did not communicate this to him. The situation worsened when Howard returned to the emergency department with severe symptoms a year later, leading to the discovery that his cancer had worsened. Following the family's concerns, VA staff later held a meeting to apologize for the communication issues and indicated that an investigation was underway. The lawsuit outlines that early detection is crucial for treating lung and esophageal cancers, and the delays Howard faced significantly worsened his prognosis. VA Boston Healthcare System's representative expressed condolences to Howard's family, but did not comment on the legal matter.