This article, a news report from the Miami Herald published in December 2017, details a significant medical malpractice lawsuit filed against the Miami VA Healthcare System. The suit was brought on behalf of Lawrence Johnson, a 68-year-old Vietnam veteran, who alleges severe injuries due to a misplaced feeding tube. According to the lawsuit, filed by attorney Edward Blumberg of Deutsch Blumberg & Caballero, P.A., VA doctors mistakenly inserted a feeding tube into Johnson’s lung instead of his stomach following neck surgery in May 2016. This error allegedly went undetected for two days, leading to a life-threatening blood infection, inflammation of his lungs, and pneumonia as liquefied food accumulated in his chest. A public affairs officer for the Miami VA declined to comment specifically on the lawsuit but affirmed the quality of care provided to veterans.
Attorney Edward Blumberg emphasized the egregious nature of the alleged negligence, particularly given Johnson's veteran status. Blumberg revealed that Johnson's medical records indicate that X-rays taken shortly after the tube's insertion clearly showed a potential misplacement, with reports even stating "Significant abnormality, attention needed" and "Abnormal orientation and positioning of the Dobhoff tube." Despite these warnings and a nurse's noted concern about the patient coughing up food, the tube remained in Johnson's lung for over 48 hours, necessitating lung surgery and a nearly three-month hospitalization. Now 70, Johnson continues to suffer from swallowing and speaking difficulties, and his lawsuit seeks $18.5 million in damages from the federal government for the profound harm he endured.
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