Medical Malpractice at
Ralph H. Johnson VA Medical Center

The Ralph H. Johnson VA Medical Center in Charleston is a crucial healthcare facility for veterans in South Carolina and Georgia. This 152-bed teaching hospital, affiliated with MUSC, serves 80,000 veterans annually with specialized cardiology, cancer, and mental health care.

While most veterans receive appropriate care at this facility, medical errors and negligence can unfortunately occur. If veterans are harmed by substandard care at the Ralph H. Johnson VA Medical Center, they can seek compensation under the Federal Tort Claims Act (FTCA). However, pursuing these claims requires specialized knowledge of both medical standards of care and federal regulations.

Our law firm, led by a licensed physician and attorney, offers unique medical-legal expertise in VA medical malpractice cases. Because we deeply understand clinical medicine and FTCA requirements, we can effectively evaluate and pursue claims against the Charleston VA Medical Center when preventable medical errors harm veterans.

Established in 1966, the Ralph H. Johnson VA Medical Center stands as a cornerstone of veteran healthcare in the Southeast. The medical center, named after Charleston native and Medal of Honor recipient Ralph H. Johnson, is now a major teaching facility serving veterans in 21 counties in South Carolina and Georgia.

The medical center provides comprehensive healthcare services including anesthesia, audiology, bariatric surgery, cancer treatment, cardiology, and dermatology. A recent expansion in 2020 added a 24,000-square-foot mental health research building, demonstrating the facility's commitment to advancing veteran care. The center maintains active affiliations with the Medical University of South Carolina, hosting multiple residency programs in medicine, surgery, and psychiatry.

Director Scott R. Isaacks and Chief of Staff Dr. Christopher Blasy lead this key facility within the VA Southeast Healthcare Network. Its status as a teaching hospital ensures access to advanced medical technologies and treatments, while also introducing the complexities that come with training environments.

• Surgical Errors: Given the facility's role as a teaching hospital performing complex procedures, surgical mistakes can occur during bariatric surgery, cardiac procedures, or other operations. Common issues include wrong-site surgery, retained surgical items, or anesthesia errors. Learn more about surgical malpractice claims →

• Emergency Room Mistakes: The Charleston VA's emergency department serves veterans in crisis, but staffing challenges and communication breakdowns can lead to delayed treatment or mismanaged emergencies. These errors often involve failure to recognize time-critical conditions or inappropriate discharge decisions. Learn more about ER malpractice →

• Diagnostic Failures: Veterans may experience delayed or missed diagnoses, particularly in complex specialties like cardiology and cancer care. These errors often result from rushed appointments, inadequate follow-up, or misinterpreted test results. Learn more about misdiagnosis claims →

• Medication Errors: The complexity of VA prescription systems and multiple provider involvement can lead to dangerous medication mistakes. These include incorrect dosing, drug interactions, or failure to account for a veteran's medical history.

Under the Federal Tort Claims Act (28 U.S.C. § 2675), veterans must first file an administrative claim using Standard Form 95 before pursuing legal action for medical malpractice. This claim must be filed with the Department of Veterans Affairs Regional Counsel office responsible for the Charleston area.

The process begins with submitting detailed documentation about the medical care received at Ralph H. Johnson VA Medical Center and the resulting injuries. Your claim must include supporting medical records, expert opinions, and evidence of damages. Our doctor-attorney team has extensive experience gathering and presenting this critical documentation.

Critical deadlines apply to these claims. Veterans must file their administrative claim within two years of when they discovered (or reasonably should have discovered) their injury. The VA then has six months to investigate and respond to the claim. If the claim is denied or the six-month period expires without a decision, veterans have six months to file a federal lawsuit.

For complete step-by-step instructions, see our comprehensive guide: How to File a VA Medical Malpractice Claim in South Carolina →

South Carolina's medical malpractice statute of limitations (S.C. Code § 15-3-545) typically allows three years to file claims, but FTCA claims against the Charleston VA Medical Center must follow the stricter federal two-year deadline. While South Carolina law caps non-economic damages in medical malpractice cases, these state caps do not apply to FTCA claims against federal facilities.

For detailed information about state-specific considerations affecting your VA medical malpractice claim, visit our South Carolina VA medical malpractice guide: South Carolina VA Medical Malpractice Claims →

We also handle medical malpractice cases at these South Carolina facilities:

• Naval Hospital Beaufort (Beaufort) →
• Wm. Jennings Bryan Dorn VA Medical Center (Columbia) →

If you've experienced medical malpractice at the Ralph H. Johnson VA Medical Center in Charleston, South Carolina, you need to understand your rights under the Federal Tort Claims Act (FTCA). This federal law allows veterans and their families to seek compensation when harmed by negligent medical care at VA facilities, but the process has strict deadlines and requirements you must follow.

You have two years from the date of injury or when you reasonably should have discovered the injury to file an administrative claim using Standard Form 95. This initial claim must be filed with the Department of Veterans Affairs before any lawsuit can proceed. The VA then has six months to investigate and respond to your claim. If they deny your claim or fail to respond within six months, you then have six months to file a federal lawsuit.

For VA medical malpractice cases in Charleston, working with an attorney who is also a medical doctor provides crucial advantages. A doctor-attorney can quickly identify deviations from the standard of care, understand complex medical records, and effectively communicate with medical experts. This specialized knowledge is particularly important when dealing with the unique aspects of VA healthcare and the specific procedures at Ralph H. Johnson VA Medical Center.

Through an FTCA claim, you may be able to recover various types of damages. These can include past and future medical expenses, lost wages and reduced earning capacity, and compensation for pain and suffering. For veterans' families pursuing wrongful death claims, additional damages may be available, including funeral expenses and loss of companionship.

If you believe you or a family member received negligent medical care at the Ralph H. Johnson VA Medical Center, you should consider having your case evaluated by an experienced FTCA attorney. Many lawyers who handle VA medical malpractice cases offer free initial consultations and work on a contingency fee basis, meaning you pay nothing unless they recover compensation for you. Time is critical due to the strict deadlines, so it's important to have your potential claim reviewed as soon as possible to protect your rights and ensure all filing requirements are met properly.

We handle various types of VA and military medical malpractice cases in South Carolina:

• South Carolina Surgical Errors Cases →
• South Carolina Emergency Room Errors Cases →
• South Carolina Brain Injury Cases →
• South Carolina Spinal Cord Injury Cases →
• South Carolina Misdiagnosis Cases →
• South Carolina Medication Errors Cases →