Vet Files Medical Malpractice Suit Against VA Hospital

A Vietnam veteran has filed a medical malpractice claim against the federal government after the New York Times broke the story about a Veterans Administration medical center performing botched cancer treatments.

Barry Lackro, 59, is reportedly one out of the 116 cases that were reported to receive inadequate treatment from the cancer unit at the Philadelphia VA Medical Center.

In the Times story, evidence of medical malpractice was revealed with the treatment given, which included the implanting of radioactive metal seeds into the prostate to fight cancer.

Through the news provider's investigation, it was found that Dr Gary D. Kao performed the majority of the alleged subpar seed implants. In some cases, the metal seeds were found to be in other organs in the body.

Last week Kao told a Congressional panel that though he admitted he could have done a better job, he stood by his handling of the treatment.

"I did not believe our procedures were botched," Kao said at the hearing. "I've always acted in the best interest of the patients."
According to Lackro's suit, one of the radioactive implants from the cancer unit ended up in the veteran's bladder and three came out in blood clots.