Medical Malpractice at
Clement J. Zablocki VA Medical Center

Each year, the Clement J. Zablocki VA Medical Center in Milwaukee provides crucial healthcare to over 64,000 veterans in eastern Wisconsin. This major VA medical facility offers comprehensive services, including surgery, emergency care, cancer treatment, and specialized veterans' healthcare programs, playing a vital role in our veterans' wellbeing.

The Zablocki VA Medical Center generally meets accepted medical standards, but preventable medical errors still occur. If veterans suffer harm due to negligent care at this facility, the Federal Tort Claims Act (FTCA) gives them legal rights to seek compensation. However, VA medical malpractice claims involve complex federal procedures that differ significantly from standard medical malpractice cases.

Because our firm's founder is both a licensed physician and attorney, he brings unique medical and legal expertise to VA malpractice cases. With this doctor-attorney perspective, we can thoroughly evaluate potential claims against the Zablocki VA Medical Center and effectively advocate for veterans harmed by substandard care.

Established in 1867 as the National Home for Disabled Volunteer Soldiers, the Clement J. Zablocki VA Medical Center has evolved into a modern 189-bed medical facility that serves as a cornerstone of veteran healthcare in Wisconsin. The center was renamed in 1984 to honor Congressman Clement J. Zablocki and has been an integral part of the VA's integrated healthcare system since 1930.

Today, under the leadership of Director James McLain and Chief of Staff Daniel Zomchek, Ph.D., the facility serves as a teaching hospital affiliated with the Medical College of Wisconsin. The medical center provides comprehensive healthcare services including adaptive sports programs, addiction treatment, specialized surgical services, cancer care, audiology, and rehabilitation programs for amputees.

The Zablocki VA Medical Center provides routine and specialized medical care as one of Wisconsin's main VA healthcare facilities. Its status as a teaching hospital and academic affiliate helps attract skilled medical professionals while maintaining high standards of care.

• Surgical Errors: At the Zablocki VA Medical Center, surgical mistakes can include wrong-site surgery, post-operative complications, or anesthesia errors. These errors often result from communication breakdowns or inadequate pre-operative planning. Learn more about VA surgical errors in Wisconsin →

• Emergency Room Mistakes: The facility's emergency department handles urgent veteran care needs, but errors in triage, delayed treatment, or mishandled acute conditions can lead to serious harm. Staffing shortages and high patient volumes can contribute to these mistakes. Learn more about VA emergency room errors →

• Diagnostic Failures: Veterans at Zablocki may experience delayed or missed diagnoses, particularly for serious conditions like cancer or cardiac issues. These errors often stem from inadequate testing or failed communication between departments. Learn more about VA misdiagnosis claims →

• Medication Errors: Improper medication management, including incorrect dosing or drug interactions, can cause significant harm. These errors are particularly concerning given the complex medication regimens many veterans require.

• Hospital-Acquired Infections: Preventable infections due to inadequate sanitation or post-surgical care protocols can lead to serious complications, especially for immunocompromised veterans.

Under the Federal Tort Claims Act (28 U.S.C. § 2675), veterans must first file an administrative claim before pursuing legal action for medical malpractice at the Zablocki VA Medical Center. This process begins by submitting Standard Form 95 (SF-95) to the appropriate VA Regional Counsel office.

For claims involving care at the Zablocki VA Medical Center, administrative claims should be filed with:

VA Regional Counsel 5000 West National Avenue Milwaukee, WI 53295

Critical deadlines apply to these claims. Veterans must file their administrative claim within two years of discovering their injury. Once filed, the VA 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 Wisconsin →

Wisconsin's standard medical malpractice statute of limitations (Wis. Stat. § 893.55) differs from the FTCA requirements that govern VA medical malpractice claims. While state damage caps exist for private medical malpractice cases, FTCA claims follow federal guidelines for damages, though they may reference state law for certain determinations.

Veterans pursuing claims against the Zablocki VA Medical Center should understand that these cases are heard in federal court, not state court. For detailed information about Wisconsin-specific considerations, visit our Wisconsin VA Medical Malpractice Guide →

We also handle medical malpractice cases at these Wisconsin facilities:

• Milo C. Huempfner Department of Veterans Affairs Outpatient Clinic (Green Bay) →
• Tomah VA Medical Center (Tomah) →
• William S. Middleton Memorial Veterans' Hospital (Madison) →

If you've experienced medical negligence at the Clement J. Zablocki VA Medical Center in Milwaukee, 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 file your FTCA claim within two years of when you knew or should have known about the injury and its cause. The claim begins by filing Standard Form 95 with the Department of Veterans Affairs. Once filed, the VA 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 at Zablocki, having an attorney who is also a medical doctor can be crucial to your success. These complex cases require both legal expertise and deep medical knowledge to prove that the VA's care fell below acceptable standards and directly caused your injuries. A doctor-attorney can efficiently review your medical records, identify deviations from the standard of care, and effectively communicate these issues to the court.

Through an FTCA claim, you may be able to recover various damages, including past and future medical expenses, lost wages and earning capacity, and compensation for pain and suffering. If you've lost a loved one due to VA medical negligence, surviving family members may be entitled to wrongful death damages. Unlike private medical malpractice cases, FTCA claims have no caps on damages in Wisconsin.

Don't wait to explore your legal options if you've been harmed at the Zablocki VA Medical Center. Many experienced medical malpractice attorneys offer free consultations to evaluate your case and explain your rights. These initial case reviews are confidential and come with no obligation. Remember, the sooner you reach out for legal help, the better positioned you'll be to meet FTCA deadlines and preserve crucial evidence for your claim.

Get your free case evaluation today to understand if you have a valid claim and learn how to protect your rights under the FTCA. Your service and sacrifice deserve nothing less than excellent medical care, and you have the right to seek justice when that standard isn't met.

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

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