Kidney Failure & NSAIDs 

VA Medical Malpractice Claims

Were you prescribed or recommended a non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drug (NSAID) by a VA doctor at a VA hospital or VA medical clinic? Did you later suffer a kidney-related disease or kidney failure? There might be a connection between the NSAID and your kidney problems—and you might be able to take legal action.

National Trial Law is the nation’s trusted source for lawsuits and Federal Tort Claims Act cases against the Veterans Administration and the United States Military. We would be honored to be your first choice for legal counsel for your NSAID/kidney failure claim. With our lawyers leading the way, you might be able to secure a settlement or award that pays for your medical expenses and compensates you for other losses like lost wages and pain and suffering.

Why should you choose National Trial Law first?

• We have 50+ years of trial experience with complex injury claims.
• We represent FTCA claimants nationwide.
• We focus on military and VA medical malpractice cases.
• We can provide legal counsel in English and Spanish for your convenience.

Call (833) 913-1885 or contact us online today to learn more about NSAID military medical malpractice claims.

What is an NSAID?

NSAIDs are commonly used to reduce inflammation, alleviate pain, lower fevers, and reduce the risk of suffering a blood clot, especially after undergoing surgery. Most people who use an NSAID will purchase it off the shelf of a pharmacy or grocery store, but stronger NSAIDs can be prescribed by a doctor. At National Trial Law, we focus on claims involving NSAIDs that were unsafely prescribed by military doctors or that were recommended by a military doctor without a specific prescription.

Over-the-counter NSAIDs linked to kidney failure include:

• Ibuprofen (Advil® or Motrin®)
• Naproxen (Naprosyn® or Aleve®)

Prescription NSAIDs linked to kidney failure include:

• Celecoxib (Celebrex®)
• Diclofenac (Voltaren® or Cataflam®)
• Etodolac (Lodine®)
• Indomethacin (Indocin®)
• Ketoprofen (Orudis®)
• Ketorolac (Toradol®)
• Meloxicam (Mobic®)
• Nabumetone (Relafen®)
• Oxaprozin (Daypro®)
• Piroxicam (Feldene®)
• Tolmetin (Tolectin®)
• Sulindac (Clinoril®)

Were you told to take any of the above NSAIDs by a VA medical provider and were later diagnosed with kidney disease or kidney damage? Don’t wait. Call (833) 913-1885 now to talk with our NSAID VA medical malpractice case attorneys.

Kidney Issues Caused by NSAIDs

Several prominent health and drug safety groups have found convincing links between NSAID use and kidney issues. The risks occur due to how NSAIDs are processed in the body, how that can impact the arachidonic acid cycle, and how the targeted effects of NSAIDs influence cyclooxygenases (COX-1 or COX-2) regulation. Some studies have found that even small or infrequent doses can create this risk, but it is more likely when NSAIDs are overused or overprescribed.

Kidney problems and health issues associated with frequent NSAID use include:

• Acute kidney injury
• Chronic kidney disease
• Tubulointerstitial nephritis
• Proteinuria
• Hematuria
• Gross hematuria
• Oliguria
• Renal disease
• Anasarca
• Hypoalbuminemia
• Hypercholesteremia
• Hypertension

If you have been showing symptoms of kidney disease or malfunction – such as frequent headaches, vomiting, fatigue, or urinary problems – please seek medical attention as soon as possible. Tell the medical team treating you that you have used NSAIDs recently or for a prescription, so the right diagnostic testing can be done.

Record-Setting Settlement Against the VA for Kidney Failure

National Trial Law recently secured a record-setting settlement against the VA for its medical negligence in over prescribing NSAIDs leading to kidney failure in our veteran client. Our client was prescribed and re-prescribed these drugs for years. Even then, the VA failed to diagnose the impact these drugs had on his kidneys. Unsurprisingly, he developed acute kidney failure and has lifelong consequences as a result. National Trial Law secured a $10,500,000 settlement from the VA for our client for this medical negligence.

VA Medical Negligence in Kidney Failure Cases

A VA medical provider or on-base clinician could be negligent if they prescribe an NSAID to a patient for too long of a period or to a patient who is at risk of kidney complications. The same is true if no prescription is given but the military medical provider recommends the frequent use of an over-the-counter NSAID to combat aches and inflammation.

Before a doctor prescribes or recommends any medication like an NSAID, a thorough review of the patient’s medical history should be conducted. Sometimes, only a cursory glance at a patient’s history is needed to see that an NSAID would be unsafe due to known, suspected, or genetic kidney issues. When it is not clear if an NSAID prescription would be safe, a medical practitioner should order diagnostic tests like blood tests to look for warning signs.

Establishing Causation Between Medical Errors & Kidney Failure

National Trial Law and our highly experienced team of NSAID lawsuit attorneys know where to look for evidence to firmly establish a link between your kidney failure and the mistakes of your medical provider. 

Evidence that could be used to support your claim includes:

• Your medical history.
• Lab tests that show worsening kidney disease.
• Diagnosis of your kidney-related health conditions.
• Lack of treatment of your kidney disease.
• Expert testimony from nephrologists and other medical providers.

Stomach Issues Caused by NSAIDs

Although kidney damage is one of the better-known NSAID risks, it is not the only one. Research has shown that NSAID use can also cause stomach ulcers, also called peptic ulcers or gastric ulcers, especially when someone takes large doses for an extended period of months or years. For this reason, medical professionals should be hesitant to prescribe an NSAID to alleviate chronic pain or inflammation.

Mild to moderate stomach ulcer symptoms can include:

• Abdominal pain or burning sensation
• Bloating, burping, and passing gas
• Nausea and vomiting
• Loss of appetite
• Feeling full after a very small meal
• Unexplained weight loss

Severe stomach ulcer symptoms can include:

• Excruciating stomach pain
• Frequent vomiting and dehydration
• Bloody or black stools
• Bloody vomit

Please seek immediate medical attention if you notice blood in your stool or vomit, which is usually a clear symptom of internal bleeding from a peptic ulcer. If a bleeding ulcer is not treated urgently, then it could lead to life-threatening blood loss.

Are There Cures for Stomach Ulcers Caused by NSAIDs?

If your military medical provider diagnoses you with a stomach ulcer caused by NSAID use, then the first thing that they will likely do is find an alternative medication with lower ulcer risks. With adequate, prompt treatment and bed rest, stomach ulcers can gradually heal. Your doctor may use another prescription to control stomach acid production and accelerate the healing process.

If you are still told to take an NSAID after suffering from unsafe stomach ulcer symptoms, then it might constitute medical malpractice. Our attorneys can investigate your situation and determine when and how medical malpractice occurred. In some cases, it might have been medical malpractice for a military medical practitioner to first prescribe or recommend an NSAID to you due to known health risks, such as the use of blood thinners or corticosteroids.

Damages & Compensation for Claimants

To demand compensation for the mistakes of the federal government, you can’t file a lawsuit as you would in a typical court. Instead, you must begin with a Form 95 to start a Federal Tort Claims Act (FTCA) case. This process is how you can demand compensation for the damages that you have suffered due to a military medical provider’s unsafe prescription or use of NSAIDs.

Compensation through a successful FTCA case could include:

• Past and future medical treatment costs like dialysis, kidney transplants and other medical needs.
• Past and future lost income if your condition affected your employment.
• Expenses related to physical impairment and disability.
• Damages related to your pain, suffering, and lost enjoyment of life.

Our attorneys can calculate the total amount of compensation you should be given. It is important to know that whatever amount is listed on the Form 95 becomes the total amount of damages you can recover at trial, so it is important not to underestimate future damages. The responding government agencies or defendants will then decide within six months to investigate the case. They may make a settlement offer, or they may deny your claim. If the claim is denied, then we can discuss whether filing a lawsuit would be in your best interest given the facts of your individual case.

Statute of Limitations to File a Lawsuit

Generally, the statute of limitation for an FTCA claim is two years. The date begins when you knew or reasonably should have known that your kidney damage was caused by NSAID use. We can evaluate your case to determine when the statute of limitations began and how much time left you have to file a claim. It is important to act quickly because you will lose your right to pursue compensation if you miss this deadline.

Make the Call & Talk to National Trial Law Today

Leave all parts of your NSAID/kidney failure lawsuit against the VA or the U.S. Military up to National Trial Law. Our attorneys have achieved record-high settlements against the United States in kidney failure cases and they are backed by decades of collective legal experience with a focus on FTCA claims involving VA and military medical malpractice.

When we are in charge of your claim, you can depend on us to:

• Investigate the situation and circumstances of your illness.
• Look for convincing evidence of negligence caused by the VA or your military medical provider.
• Build a claim and file a Form 95 for you.
• Respond to inquiries about your Form 95 and push for a fair settlement.
• Represent you in court if a lawsuit is needed to secure justice and compensation.

We are proud to offer our legal counsel, no matter where you live. Our NSAID lawsuit attorneys can represent people across the nation, so you know that help is never far.

Contact us online if you believe you are the victim of military medical malpractice that caused you to suffer kidney failure or disease.