`Case 1:21-cv-00334-CB Document 1 Filed 12/02/21 Page 1 of 12
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`IN THE UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT
`FOR THE WESTERN DISTRICT OF PENNSYLVANIA
`
`) ) )
`
`GERALD ANDERSON,
`Plaintiff
`
`CIVIL ACTION NO.1:21-cv-334
`
`v
`)
`.
`)
`AMERICA;
`OF
`STATES
`UNITED
` )
`UNITED STATES DEPARTMENT OF
`VETERANS AFFAIRS; DEPARTMENT)
`OF VETERANS AFFAIRS; VETERANS_)
`HEALTH ADMINISTRATION;and
`)
`ERIE VETERANS ADMINISTRATION _)
`MEDICAL CENTER,
`)
`Defendants
`)
`
`JURY TRIAL DEMANDED
`
`COMPLAINT
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`AND NOW,comesPlaintiff, Gerald Anderson, by and through his counsel, Purchase
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`George & Murphey, P.C., and files this complaint against Defendants United States of America;
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`United States Department of Veterans Affairs; Department of Veterans Affairs; Veterans Health
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`Administration; and Erie Veterans Affairs Medical Center:
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`PARTIES
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`1.
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`Plaintiff Gerald Anderson (“Mr. Anderson”)
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`is an adult citizen of the
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`Commonwealth of Pennsylvania and a United States military veteran, residing and domiciled at
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`1158 East 10" Street, Erie, Pennsylvania 16503.
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`2.
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`Defendant Erie Veterans Administration Medical Center (“Erie VA”)is a federally
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`operated and funded medicaltreatmentfacility located at 135 East 38"Street, Erie, Pennsylvania
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`16504, responsible for serving United States Military veterans, including Gerald Anderson.
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`3.
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`Defendants United States Department ofVeterans Affairs, Department ofVeterans
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`Affairs, and/or Veterans Health Administration are cabinet-level executive branch departments of
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`the United States federal government charged with providing healthcare services to military
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`1:21-cv-334
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`veterans,
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`including Gerald Anderson,
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`through veterans medical centers,
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`including the Erie
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`(Pennsylvania) Veterans Administration Medical Center.
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`4.
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`Defendant United States of America is subject to suit for personal injury caused by
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`the negligent and wrongful acts and omissions of employees of the federal government while
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`acting within the course and scopeoftheir office or employment, under the circumstances where
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`the Defendant, if a private person, would be liable to the Plaintiff, pursuant to the Federal Tort
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`Claims Act, 28 U.S.C. §2671 et seq.
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`JURISDICTION AND VENUE
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`5.
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`This action arises under the Federal Tort Claims Act, 28 U.S.C. §1346(b)(1),
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`§7316(a)(1), §7316(a)(2), §2671, et seg., and §1151(a), inter alia.
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`6.
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`This Court has original jurisdiction over the proceedings against all Defendants
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`because Plaintiffsuffered injuries and damagesasa result ofthe medical negligence ofthe medical
`providers and staffofthe Erie VA, while said medical providers and staffwere employees, agents
`or ostensible agents ofsomeorall ofthe Defendants and were acting within thecourse and scope
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`of their employmentor agency. The claims herein are for money damages as compensation for the
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`personalinjuries and pecuniary losses caused by the negligent and wrongful acts and omissions of
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`employees of the United States and/or other Defendants, while acting within the scope oftheir
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`offices and employment, under circumstances where the Defendants, if private persons, would be
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`liable to the Plaintiff in accordance with the laws of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania.
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`7,
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`Underthe laws of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, the Defendants,jointly and
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`severally, including the Erie VA Medical Center and its medical providers and staff, owed a duty
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`to provide prompt and appropriate medical care to Mr. Anderson; the care provided to him
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`
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`breached the standard of care; the breaches are the proximate cause of Mr. Anderson’s harm; and
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`Mr. Andersonsuffered damagesasaresult of the Defendants’ breach.
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`8.
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`Venueis appropriate in this District pursuant to 28 U.S.C. §1391 (b)in that, atall
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`times relevant hereto, the Plaintiff was a resident of Erie County, Pennsylvania and the defendant
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`medical facility was located in Erie County, Pennsylvania. Furthermore, the events and/or
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`omissions giving rise to this claim occurred in Erie County, Pennsylvania, which is within this
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`judicial district.
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`9.
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`Plaintiff presented his claim via Registered Mail, Return Receipt Requested and
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`regular first-class United States Mail, to Defendants pursuant to 28 U.S.C. §2675. Said claim
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`contained a demand for money damages, and such demand was a sum certain in excess of the
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`required jurisdictional amount. The claim was received by Defendants on June 1, 2021, as
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`acknowledged byletter dated June 17, 2021 from the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs, Office
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`of General Counsel. Six months later, Defendants have not respondedto plaintiff's claim.
`10.
`Plaintiffhas compliedwith all administrative requirements to assert this action, and
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`all administrative remedies have been exhausted. In compliance with 28 U.S.C. Section 2401(b)
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`Plaintiff brings his cause of action within six months of the appropriate Federal agency’s failure
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`to deny orsettle Plaintiff's claim for $3,000,000.
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`FACTS
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`11.
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`Mr. Anderson established primary care at the Erie VA on or about December16,
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`2016, during an initial medical visit and physical examination.
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`12.
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`At that first medical visit, Mr. Anderson told the nurse practitioner that his parents
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`had a history of cancer, and he was concerned abouthisrisk of prostate cancer because his brother
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`had recently died from complications of prostate cancer.
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`13.
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`At that first medical visit, Mr. Anderson informedthe nursepractitionerthathis last
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`physical exam was seven (7) to eight (8) years priorto that visit.
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`14.
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`At that first medical visit, Mr. Anderson was askedhis “level of interest in learning
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`aboutillness and/or health promotion.” Mr. Anderson’s response was“great interest”.
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`15.
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`Despite Mr. Anderson’s concerns pertainingto his family history of cancer andhis
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`brother’s death of prostate cancer, Mr. Anderson was not advised aboutthe benefits and risks of
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`prostate screening, nor was he given any other information regarding prostate cancer screening or
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`the possibility of prostate cancer screening at his December 2016 medical visit at the Erie VA.
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`16.
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`No genitourinary exam or PSA testing were performed at the December 2016
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`medical visit.
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`17.
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`Almost a year later, on August 29, 2017, Mr. Anderson returned for another
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`physical examination at which time there was again no documentation showing that Mr. Anderson
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`was advised aboutthe possibility ofprostate cancer screening.
`18.
`On June 29, 2018, Mr. Anderson returned again to the primary careclinic at the
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`Erie VA. He expressed concern for potential prostate abnormalities. He mentioned he was getting
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`up from sleep to urinate two to three times a night and did not feel that his bladder was emptying.
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`19.
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`The June 29, 2018 medical records fail to record these symptoms under “review of
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`systems”.
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`20.
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`21.
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`No prostate exam was conducted.
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`A serum prostate specific antigen (PSA) test was ordered and conducted. A bladder
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`ultrasound wasordered and conducted. An alpha-blocking medication wasdiscussedto potentially
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`relieve the urinary symptoms.
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`22.
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`A urology consultation was to be considered pending the results of the PSAtest
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`and bladderultrasound.
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`23.
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`On July 2, 2018, Mr. Anderson’s PSA test came back highly elevated and grossly
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`abnormalat 46.986 ng/mL. (A normal PSArangeis less than or equal to 4 ng/mL.)
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`24.|Mr. Anderson was not notified regarding his severely elevated PSA level as
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`revealed by the July 2, 2018 PSAtest result.
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`25.
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`There is no documentation in the medical records indicating that Mr. Anderson’s
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`doctors, physician’s assistant, nurse, nurse practitioner, or any of his medical care providers or
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`staff at the Erie VA ever reviewed Mr. Anderson’s highly elevated PSAtest result of July 2, 2018.
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`26.
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`There is no documentation that Mr. Anderson’s doctors, physician’s assistant,
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`nurse, nurse practitioner, or any of his medical care providers or staff at the Erie VA ever inquired
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`into the results of Mr. Anderson’s 2018 PSAtest results.
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`The bladder ultrasound was performed on July 26, 2018 and revealeda mildly
`27.
`enlarged prostate gland (volume 41 mL) and a moderate post-void residual in the bladder at 38 mL
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`indicating that the bladder was not completely emptying.
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`28.
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`Together, the 2018 PSAresult, enlarged prostate gland, and bladdertest results
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`were very concerning for prostate malignancy and should have prompted an urgentreferral to a
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`urologist for additional evaluation and work-up.
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`29.
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`Despite these red flags, no further treatmentor testing was ordered or performed to
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`diagnose Mr. Anderson’s prostate cancer until almost one yearlater.
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`30.
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`On June 28, 2019, Mr. Anderson returned to the Erie VA primary clinic with
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`complaints of numbnessandtingling in his feet, as well as continuing dysuria.
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`31.
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`Once again, Mr. Anderson’s symptom of dysuria is not documented in the
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`“systems” section of his medical records, although it is documented in another section of the
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`medical record.
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`No prostate exam was performedatthis visit.
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`Another PSAtest was ordered and performed on June 28, 2019.
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`The June 28, 2019 PSA test returned an abnormal and highly elevated result at
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`32.
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`33.
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`34.
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`65.037 ng/mL.
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`35.
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`A VA nurse practitioner sent Mr. Andersona letter informing him ofhis 2019 PSA
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`test result and that his PSA level was elevated. Theletter also instructed Mr. Anderson to be sure
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`to attend a urology consultation.
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`36.
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` OnJuly 12,2019, Mr. Anderson’s urologist recommended a biopsy which was then
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`performed on August2, 2019.
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`37.
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`The biopsy revealed that Mr. Anderson had advanced (Stage IV) prostate
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`adenocarcinoma.
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`38.
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`On August 9, 2019, a bone scan and other tests revealed bony metastatic lesions in
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`the T6 vertebra andin the pelvis.
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`39.
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`ACT scan of the abdomen/pelvis with and without contrast showed the presence
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`of multiple sclerotic lesions at multiple levels of the spine. Shotty and enlarged lymph nodes were
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`also noted.
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`40.
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`Mr. Anderson was referred to oncology and hematology where he received
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`chemotherapy and androgen deprivation therapyto treat his metastatic prostate adenocarcinoma.
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`41.
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`Despite ongoing treatment, Mr. Anderson’s prognosisis poor.
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`42,
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`Defendants’ significant delay in diagnosing or treating Mr. Anderson’s prostate
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`cancer has resulted in a poorer prognosis for recovery than had he been diagnosed andtreated
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`earlier and has increased his risk of early mortality. Moreover, Mr. Anderson has had to undergo
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`longer, more aggressive, and more painful and debilitating treatment in an attempt to cure his
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`prostate cancer, than had he been diagnosedearlier.
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`43.
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`As a direct and proximal result of the negligence of the Defendants and/or
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`Defendants’ agents, apparent agents, ostensible agents,
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`servants,
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`representatives, and/or
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`employees, Mr. Anderson now mustsuffer significantly more aggressive, painful, and debilitating
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`treatmentfor a longer period of time and hesuffers from a significantly poorer prognosis than had
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`he received a timely diagnosis of prostate cancer.
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`44,
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`The care and treatment provided to Gerald Anderson by the Erie VA and/orits
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`employees, agents and/or ostensible agents was negligent and deviated from the standard of care
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`in the following respects:
`| a. Failing to timely diagnose and/or effectively treat Mr. Anderson’s prostate
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`cancer;
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`b. Failing to appropriately respond and/or failing to respond in a timely manner
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`to Mr. Anderson’sarticulated concerns about his family history of mortality as
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`a result of cancer and prostate cancer, and about his own potential for
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`developing prostate cancer;
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`c. Failing to advise (including the advising of risks and benefits), suggest, offer
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`or otherwise discuss prostate cancer screening at Mr. Anderson’s December
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`16, 2016 initial encounter at the Erie VA,in light of Mr. Anderson’s family
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`history and specific concerns about prostate cancer;
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`
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`d. Failing to advise (including the advising of risks and benefits), suggest, offer
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`or otherwise discuss prostate cancer screening at any time between Mr.
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`Anderson’s December 16, 2016 initial encounter at the Erie VA and the time
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`of his first PSA test ordered on or about June 29, 2018, in light of Mr.
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`Anderson’s family history and specific concerns about prostate cancer, and his
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`emerging symptomsofprostate cancer;
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`e. Failing to accurately document Mr. Anderson’s reported symptomsin his
`medical records;
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`f. Failing to provide an appropriate or timely medical response to Mr.
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`Anderson’s symptoms, and/ortest results indicative of potential prostate
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`cancer;
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`g. Failure of the VA laboratory to convey the 2018 PSAtest results to the VA
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`doctors or health care providers;
`h. Failure ofthe VAdoctors or other treatment providers to seekthe results of
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`Mr. Anderson’s July 2, 2018 PSAtest results from the laboratory;
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`1. Failing to review Mr. Anderson’s markedly elevated July 2, 2018 PSA test
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`results;
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`j. Failing to convey Mr. Anderson’s markedly elevated July 2, 2018 PSA test
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`results to Mr. Anderson;
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`k. Failure to urgently refer Mr. Anderson to a urologist for further evaluation and
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`work-upafter the July 2, 2018 PSA test results revealed a markedly elevated
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`PSA,and/or after the July bladder ultrasound revealed an enlarged prostate
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`and insufficiently emptying bladder; and
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`|. Failure to ensure that ordered bloodwork testing was completed by Mr.
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`Anderson andthe results reviewed in a timely and appropriate manner by Mr.
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`Anderson’s medical care providers.
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`45.
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`As the result of Defendants’ failure to promptly diagnose and properly treat Mr.
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`Anderson’s prostate cancer he has suffered the following injuries, including, but not limited to:
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`a.
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`an increased risk of early mortality as a result of prostate cancer or
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`complications from prostate cancer;
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`b. Having to undergo more aggressive, painful, debilitating, and longer treatment
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`in an attempt to cure his prostate cancer; and
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`c.
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`Increased anxiety and depression abouthis prognosis for recovery.
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`46.
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`Mr. Anderson’s damages include, but are not limited to:
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`a.
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`b.
`c.
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`d.
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`Increased medical expenses;
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`Increased pain and suffering;
`Increased embarrassinent and humiliation; and
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`Increasedloss ofability to enjoy the pleasuresoflife.
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`47,|Mr. Anderson’s injuries continue to cause him loss and harm and he expectsall
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`those damageslisted above to continue.
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`48.
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`Defendants’ negligence was the direct and proximate cause of Mr. Anderson’s
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`injuries resulting in damages.
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`COUNT I —- NEGLIGENCE
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`49.
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`Plaintiff incorporates the averments of this complaint as if set forth more fully
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`herein.
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`A.
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`Corporate Negligence/Negligent Supervision
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`50.
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`Theinjuries, pain and suffering, damages and losses sustained by Mr. Anderson,
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`as set forth above and for which he seeks recovery, were the direct and proximateresult of the
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`negligence, gross negligence, carelessness and malpractice of the Erie VA asset forth herein and
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`in any or all of the following respects:
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`a. Failing and neglecting in its duty to train, supervise and/or oversee all persons
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`whopractice nursing and/or medicine and other agents, servants and/or
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`employees, so as to properly and promptly advise, inform, evaluate, diagnose,
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`or treat patients in need of treatment for potential prostate cancer or prostate
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`cancer;
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`b. Failing to have in place properrules, procedures, protocols, training and
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`standardsorif enacted and promulgated,failing to enforce or perform
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`pursuantto sufficient rules regarding the proper and promptadvice,
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`evaluation, and treatmentof patients presenting with a family history of
`prostate cancer, concerns about prostate cancer, urologic symptoms such as
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`dysuria or an enlarged prostate gland, suggestive of prostate cancer or other
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`disease;
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`c. Failing to have in place properrules, procedures, protocols, training and
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`standards orif enacted and promulgated, failing to enforce or perform
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`pursuantto sufficient rules requiring laboratory personnel to convey test
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`results to medical providers, requiring medical providers to seek laboratory
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`results from tests ordered, requiring medical providers to convey laboratory
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`results to patients, requiring medical providers to promptly and properly
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`10
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`follow up abnormaltest results with appropriate and timely evaluation and
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`treatment;
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`d. Failing to have in place properrules, procedures, protocols, training and
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`standardsor if enacted and promulgated,failing to enforce or perform
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`pursuantto sufficient rules regarding advising patients of the risks and
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`benefits of PSA testing, prostate examination, or other prostate screening tools
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`available to patients presenting with a family history of prostate cancer,
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`concemsabout prostate cancer, urologic symptoms such as dysuria or an
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`enlarged prostate gland;
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`e. Failing to have in place properrules, procedures, protocols, training and
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`standardsorif enacted and promulgated,in failing to enforce or perform
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`pursuantto such rules to ensure effective communication between
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`departments and their personnel, including communication between the
`laboratory and the primary care physicians and other primary care treatment
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`providers, to ensure coordination and/or continuity of care and specific to this
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`case, to ensure follow-uptesting to rule out prostate cancer;
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`f. Failing in its duty to select, employ, hire and retain only competent
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`physicians, surgeons, nurses, nurse practitioners, laboratory personnel and/or
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`other agents, servants, and/or employees with adequate experience,
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`qualifications, skills, education, and knowledge to advise, evaluate and treat
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`patients with symptomsofprostate cancer; and
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`g. Failing in its duty to provide adequate patient care, including but not limited
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`to diagnosis, evaluation, testing and treatment of Gerald Anderson.
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`B.
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`Vicarious Negligence
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`51.
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`All of the doctors, nurses, nurse practitioners, and other medical providers and/or
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`staff of the Erie VA who were involved in the negligent care, treatment, evaluation and/or
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`diagnosis of Mr. Anderson, were, at all times relevant, employees, agents, representatives,
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`apparent agents, and/or ostensible agents of the Erie VA and/or all other named Defendants and
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`were acting in the course and scope oftheir duties as such and, consequently, Defendants are
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`vicariously liable for the harm caused Mr. Andersonasaresult of their negligence.
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`WHEREFORE,Plaintiff, Gerald Anderson, requests judgment against Defendants in an
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`amount in excess of the limits of arbitration, plus interest, costs and whatever further relief this
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`Court deemsproperor that justice requires.
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`JURY TRIAL DEMANDED
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`Respectfully submitted,
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`Purchase, George & Murphey, P.C.
`
`By:
`
`__/s/ Eric J. Purchase
`Eric J. Purchase
`Attorney I.D. 63517
`2525 West 26th Street, Suite 200
`Erie, PA 16506
`(814) 833-7100
`eric@purchasegeorge.com
`
`Attorney for Plaintiff
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`12
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