NV VA CHIEF OF STAFF DR. Komanduri UNDER INVESTIGATION BY NV MEDICAL BOARD IN THE DEATH OF VETERAN

December 20, 2017

Today, a formal complaint was filed with the Nevada Medical Board against Dr. Ramu Komanduri, Chief of Staff of the VA Southern Nevada Health Care System in the death of Army Veteran Stephen Carey. Stephen T. Carey was 42 years old last year when he died from Stage 4 cancer all alone in his mother’s basement. Stephen’s destiny was cast in stone, according to a lawsuit filed recently against the VA for Malpractice, when VA doctors failed to test and diagnose renal cancer back in 2011 through 2015 on 3 separate occasions.

The death stemmed from a cost savings practice at the VA where nurses and non-licensed medical staff cancel consults after Licensed Medical Doctors who’ve examine veterans issue referrals (consult) to a specialist. This practice by the VA is a direct threat to the lives of Veterans. The practice is done with reckless disregard to the current health issues and needs of Veterans in order to save money for the VA. Dr. Komanduri, Chief of Staff of the VA Southern Nevada Health Care System has full knowledge of this practice that has led to deaths and further damage to patients through unnecessary delays.

According to this Veteran, Dr. Komanduri refuses to take calls from Veterans with medical issues and delays in care. He has shown a total disregard for the health and well being of veterans under his care.

According to outside urologist, Dr. Kelly, who reviewed Stephen’s case, “There were three separate occasions during which time Stephen could have been diagnosed with renal cancer carcinoma… during that time in which Stephen’s cancer could have been diagnosed and most likely cured was ultimately fatal to his survival.”

Direct from the Complaint filed with the Nevada medical review board:

Affidavit of Mark J. Kelly, M.D

On January 3, 201 1 (Monday) at approximately 1:23 a.m., Mr. Cary presented himself
to the emergency room of the Mike O’Callaghan Federal Hospital at Nellis Air Force
Base in Las Vegas, Nevada (“Nellis Federal Hospital”). According to the hospital’s
intake sheet, Mr. Cary’s chief complaint was “blood in urine.” Emergency room
staff noted that Mr. Cary told them he had been “peeing straight blood” and that it
had “started Friday night.” Dr. Phil Goebel, M.D., the attending physician that
morning, ordered an emergency, noncontrast CT scan to be performed upon Mr.
Cary. The test results revealed a solid lesion in his kidney and concern was
appropriately focused at that time on the possibility that this lesion represented renal
cell carcinoma. Mr. Cary’s results were interpreted that same morning, at
approximately 5:29 a.m., by Valor Teleradiology. Dr. Goebel appropriately
recognized the severity of these findings and the maxim that visible blood in the
urine is a malignancy until proven otherwise and notified Mr. Cary that he was
initiating a referral to urology and medical oncology to be performed within 72 hours
(“urology and oncology will be calling you to set up appointments to further evaluate
the blood in your urine and the mass on your kidney and in your liver”). Dr. Eric B.
Schmell, M.D., the interpreting physician for Valor Teleradiology, noted “the
findings could represent a renal cell carcinoma with hepatic metastases. A CT with
IV contrast is recommended for further evaluation.” Computed tomography or “CT” is the standard medical test that can reveal die presence of life-threatening
malignancies in patients presenting with blood in their urine that cannot be seen in a
conventional X-ray. Proper administration of the appropriate CT Imaging with and
without Intravenous Contrast is crucial to the detection of renal cell carcinoma.
b. The same morning, January 3, 2011 at approximately 4:21 a.m., Dr. Camilo Tabora,
M.D. confirmed Dr. Goebel’s directive by noting tire following: “patient found to
have a 3.2 cm left renal mass and 3.8 cm hepatic mass suspicious for cancer. Patient
needs work up. Referred to urology and oncology.” However, five hours later, or at
9:12 a.m., Dr. Robert Sarazen, M.D. dictated the following: “Reviewed ER note.
Urology consult canceled. I have ordered labs, CT scan of chest/abdomen/ and
pelvis. Will have the patient come in for evaluation ASAP.”

Issue #1
When Dr. Robert Sarazen, M.D., who never examined Mr. Caery, never spoke with Mr. Carey, never spoke with the Doctors who examined Mr.Carey, and still canceled Mr.Carey’s consult from Doctors who did examined the patient, was not done in the best interest of patient Cary, but part of the VA’s cost-saving scheme. Dr. Sarazen’s actions were reckless and callous and violated Dr. Sarazen’s oath and ultimately cost Mr. Cary his life.

Issue #2
The VA also uses nurses and non-licensed medical staff to cancel consults from Licensed Doctors. This practice by the VA is a direct threat to the lives of Veterans. It will be proven that this practice is done with reckless disregard to the current health issues of Veterans in order to save money for the VA. Dr. Komanduri, Chief of Staff of the VA Southern Nevada Health Care System has full knowledge of this practice that has led to the deaths and further damage to patients through unnecessary delays.

Stephens’s family filed a claim (before filing their lawsuit) with the VA seeking help, which was denied. The VA has failed to help his family since his death.

Attorney Paul Padda took the case and filed a lawsuit against the VA in U.S. Federal District Court and is awaiting a trial date. The Doctors who failed Stephen continue to work at the VA today.

360Daily.net reached out to the VA for comment on this story but they refused to comment.

President Trump recently signed the VA Accountability Act providing more authority to fire VA personnel.

Currently, the life of a Veteran is only worth $350,000 under caps here in Nevada and that’s before attorney fees.

The complaint accuses Dr. Komanduri of displaying:
“Gross Negligence,
Intentional Disregard for the safety of patients
Failure to Supervise Medical Staff
Failure to provide reasonable medical care
Failure to put the best interests of patients first.
Failure to timely following up in a medically necessarily timely manner following a medical issue with the patient.”

The complaint also listed several other cases in which Dr. Komanduri failed to provide proper medical supervision.  The complaint goes on to state that “Dr. Komanduri has refused repeatedly to take phone calls from veterans who have serious medical issues and who cannot gain access to medical care due to the incompetent bureaucracy that is creating medically lethal delays. Delays he could remedy with one phone call to his staff.”

If you have been mistreated by the VA please contact the Nevada Medical Med Board and file a complaint today.

Rob Lauer

US Army Veteran

Political Reporter

360Daily.net