Five separate medical malpractice lawsuits have been filed against the Philadelphia VA Medical Center, the University of Pennsylvania, and a doctor, by veterans who say they were victims of botched radiation therapy.

The lawsuits were filed in federal court by Richard Mitchell, James Armstrong, John Berry, Barry Lackro, and Donald Pepper, who all claim Dr. Gary Kao and his cancer unit at the VA hospital provided substandard medical care while administering brachytherapy. The men are only five of at least 98 veterans that investigators say received botched radiation treatments at the center.

Brachytherapy uses radioactive metal “seeds”, which are placed inside the prostate with needles. The seeds create a cloud of radiation that conforms to the prostate and attacks cancerous cells.

Investigators reported a number of incidents where patients received weak radiation doses at the VA hospital as well as cases where the metal seeds were inserted into the wrong locations, such as the bladder or rectum.

If you or someone you know have suffered due to hospital error or medical negligence, you may be entitled to compensation. Please contact the Pennsylvania improper treatment lawyers of Lowenthal & Abrams, P.C., by calling 610-667-7511.