Arlington Military Medical Malpractice Attorneys

Standing Up for Military Families Harmed by Medical Negligence

When individuals or their loved ones seek medical treatment at a military hospital or an on-base clinic, a fundamental expectation of competent and professional care is established. This trust is profound, particularly for military families, active-duty servicemembers, and veterans, who often rely on the government for both their service and their healthcare. Unfortunately, medical mistakes can occur in any setting, including within military facilities, and when they do, the consequences can be life-altering and deeply unsettling.

For those who have experienced harm due to a medical error at a military facility in Arlington, Virginia, such as Fort Myer or the Andrew Rader U.S. Army Health Clinic, understanding one's legal rights is a critical first step toward recovery. National Trial Law is dedicated to protecting the rights of servicemembers and their families across the country, with a specific focus on assisting those in the Arlington area. When medical negligence occurs within the military healthcare system, it represents not only a breach of medical duty but also a profound violation of the unique covenant between the government and its service members and their families. This adds a significant emotional layer to these cases, distinguishing them from civilian medical malpractice claims and necessitating an empathetic and understanding approach from legal counsel.

Standing Up for Military Families Harmed by Medical Negligence

When you or a loved one is injured by medical negligence at a military hospital or another federal healthcare facility, the process for seeking justice is unique. This guide will walk you through how medical malpractice claims work under the Federal Tort Claims Act (FTCA) – the law that allows individuals to sue the U.S. government for negligence. If you believe you have a claim, don’t hesitate to reach out for a free consultation – strict time limits apply, and early action is crucial.

If you were harmed by a medical error at a military facility in Arlington, Virginia, including Fort Myer or the Andrew Rader U.S. Army Health Clinic, you may have the right to pursue compensation through a military medical malpractice claim. National Trial Law is here to help. With decades of combined experience, our attorneys are committed to protecting the rights of servicemembers and their families across the country. We proudly serve clients in Arlington and represent military families nationwide.

When you need Arlington military medical malpractice attorneys, we fight for military families nationwide. Call (833) 913-1885 for a free consultation today.

What Is Military Medical Malpractice under the FTCA?

Medical malpractice occurs when a healthcare professional provides substandard care that deviates from accepted medical practices and causes harm to a patient. In other words, it means a doctor or nurse made a mistake or failed to do something they should have, and that failure injured the patient. Under the Federal Tort Claims Act (FTCA), you can hold the U.S. government accountable for medical malpractice committed by federal healthcare providers (such as military doctors or VA hospital staff).

These cases are subject to a unique legal framework, including the FTCA and the Military Claims Act (MCA)

Normally, the government is immune from lawsuits (a concept called “sovereign immunity”). The FTCA is a special law that waives this immunity for negligence claims, allowing individuals to sue the United States for injuries caused by federal employees’ negligence. In the context of medical care, FTCA claims often involve malpractice at government-run hospitals and clinics. For example:

• Treatment at a VA (Veterans Affairs) hospital or clinic
• Care provided at a military base hospital or clinic (Army, Navy, Air Force medical facilities)
• Services at a federally funded community health center or clinic (certain clinics deemed as federal entities)

FTCA medical malpractice claims are essentially the federal equivalent of a standard medical malpractice lawsuit, but the defendant is the U.S. government rather than an individual doctor or hospital. The medical provider who acted negligently is generally shielded from personal liability if they are a federal employee; instead, the government itself steps in as the responsible party. Importantly, FTCA claims still rely on state medical malpractice laws for defining negligence. That means to win your case, you must prove the same basic things you would in any medical malpractice suit (duty of care, negligence, causation, and damages). The difference is you must follow the special procedures of the FTCA to bring the claim.

At National Trial Law, our military medical malpractice attorneys understand the complexities of these cases and are prepared to handle claims involving:

• Misdiagnosis or Delayed Diagnosis: Failure to correctly diagnose a condition, or a significant delay in diagnosis, is a leading cause of malpractice claims. For example, a military doctor might miss signs of cancer or a military clinic might dismiss symptoms of a serious infection as “nothing major,” only for the patient’s condition to worsen. Misdiagnosis can lead to wrong or no treatment, causing the illness to progress unchecked. In a federal setting, we see cases like missed cancers, untreated infections, or misinterpreted lab results that result in harm. Patients lose precious time for treatment, often leading to more severe injury or even death, when a competent diagnosis early on would have changed the outcome.
• Surgical Errors: Mistakes during surgery can have devastating consequences. In military or VA hospitals, surgical malpractice might include operating on the wrong body part, leaving surgical instruments or sponges inside the patient, accidental damage to organs, or other preventable errors in the operating room. Surgical teams in federal facilities are highly trained, but lapses do occur. They are sometimes due to fatigue, communication breakdowns, or systemic issues. A single error during a procedure can leave a patient with lifelong complications or require additional surgeries to fix the mistake.
• Birth Injuries: Negligence in prenatal care or during childbirth can lead to serious injuries to the newborn or the mother. In military hospitals, for instance, if doctors and nurses fail to monitor for signs of fetal distress or don’t perform a needed C-section in time, the baby might suffer oxygen deprivation leading to conditions like hypoxic-ischemic encephalopathy and cerebral palsy. Other examples include improper use of delivery tools (forceps/vacuums), not managing a high-risk pregnancy appropriately, or medication errors during labor (e.g., not prescribing prenatal vitamins). Families in federal systems, like an active-duty service member’s spouse giving birth at a base hospital or a veteran delivering at a VA hospital, may face heartbreak and long-term care needs due to preventable birth injuries.
• Medication Errors: Medication mistakes are unfortunately common everywhere. In federal healthcare facilities, this could involve a doctor prescribing the wrong medication or dose, a pharmacy filling a prescription incorrectly, or a nurse administering the wrong drug to a patient. Examples include mix-ups of patient medications, incorrect dosages (too high or too low), dangerous drug interactions not caught by providers, or failure to note a patient’s allergy. A medication error can cause anything from a mild reaction to severe organ damage or death. For instance, giving a patient a much higher dose of a drug than intended might lead to overdose, or giving a blood-thinner to the wrong patient could cause internal bleeding. 
• Wrongful Death: Sadly, some malpractice cases result in the death of the patient. Wrongful death claims under the FTCA can be pursued by the family when a loved one dies because of a preventable medical error at a federal facility. This could stem from any of the above issues (a misdiagnosis, surgical mistake, etc.) that proves fatal. While money can never replace a lost loved one, these claims seek compensation to help families with the financial impact (and to acknowledge the harm done). 

Each of these scenarios reflects real risks that patients face. Federal hospitals and clinics generally provide quality care, but when mistakes occur in these systems, the impact can be life-altering. Knowing the common types of malpractice can help patients stay vigilant, but ultimately, it’s the provider’s duty to uphold the standard of care. If they fall short and you’re injured as a result, the FTCA gives you a path to seek accountability and compensation. We investigate thoroughly, collaborate with medical experts, and fight to hold negligent parties accountable on your behalf.

About Fort Myer & Andrew Rader U.S. Army Health Clinic

Located adjacent to Arlington National Cemetery, Fort Myer is a historic U.S. Army post that serves as a major command center and housing location for military personnel in the National Capital Region. It is part of Joint Base Myer–Henderson Hall and plays a key role in military administration and ceremonial functions.

Servicemembers and their families stationed at or near Fort Myer often rely on the Andrew Rader U.S. Army Health Clinic for their primary medical care. This facility provides a wide range of services including general medicine, immunizations, pediatrics, behavioral health, and women’s health.

As a federal facility staffed by U.S. Army healthcare professionals, these facilities falls squarely under the scope of the Federal Tort Claims Act (FTCA) for medical malpractice purposes of their employees. Any alleged medical negligence by employees can potentially be the basis for an FTCA claim. 

While many patients receive quality care, mistakes still occur. With its high patient volume and limited resources, Andrew Rader Clinic—like many other military health facilities—is not immune to medical negligence. If you or a loved one were injured at this clinic, National Trial Law can help you explore your legal options.

Why Choose National Trial Law?

At National Trial Law, we’re proud to support those who serve our country. Choosing the right legal representation is paramount when pursuing a military medical malpractice claim. National Trial Law offers expertise in federal lawsuits, possessing a deep understanding of the unique legal framework governing military medical malpractice, including the Federal Tort Claims Act (FTCA), the Military Claims Act (MCA), and Department of Defense regulations. This specialized knowledge is crucial for navigating these complex cases successfully. 

The legal team brings decades of proven experience, with decades of combined experience in handling complex and high-stakes malpractice cases. This extensive background is directly reflected in their proven results, including multi-million dollar recoveries achieved for clients. While the firm assists clients in Arlington, specifically those impacted by care at the Andrew Rader U.S. Army Health Clinic, their representation extends nationwide and even to overseas military installations. 

Here’s what sets our firm apart:

• National Representation: Although we assist clients in Arlington, our reach is nationwide. We’ve helped clients across the U.S. and at overseas military installations.
• Focused Knowledge: Military medical malpractice cases involve overlapping laws that not every law firm understands. Our attorneys are well-versed in federal claims procedures, Department of Defense regulations, and the unique medical systems used on military bases.
• Decades of Experience: Our legal team brings more than 40 years of combined experience in handling complex and high-stakes malpractice cases.
• Client-Centered Advocacy: We listen closely to each client, build a strategy that fits their specific situation, and offer compassionate guidance every step of the way.
• Proven Results: We’ve recovered millions of dollars for injured clients and their families. We pursue every claim with a goal of securing maximum compensation.

Schedule a Free Consultation with an Arlington Military Medical Malpractice Lawyer

If you believe you or a loved one was harmed due to negligent medical care at Fort Myer, Andrew Rader Clinic, or any other military facility near Arlington, don’t wait to take action. These claims often involve strict time limits, and early legal intervention can make a critical difference.

At National Trial Law, we are committed to protecting your rights and helping you seek justice. We understand the emotional, physical, and financial toll that medical negligence can take—and we’re here to lighten your burden.

Call (833) 913-1885 today for a free, confidential case consultation. Let us put our experience, resources, and dedication to work for you.