Veteran sues, says not told of disease

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Veteran sues, says not told of disease

ARKANSAS DEMOCRAT-GAZETTE

FAYETTEVILLE — A Vietnam veteran filed a federal lawsuit Friday against the government over allegations a Veterans Administration doctor failed to tell him about a medical problem for five years.

“Bobby” Baucom filed a lawsuit in U. S. District Court in Fayetteville stating that Dr. of the Veterans Administration Hospital in Fayetteville didn’t tell Baucom that he had hepatitis C.

The lawsuit said Baucom was first diagnosed in September 2000, but didn’t tell him about the diagnosis until October 2005.

“Dr. admits that he knew of the Hepatitis C infection in September 2000, but made the informed decision not to tell Bob Baucom because of the adverse effects of the treatment,” wrote Shemin, Baucom’s attorney, in his court filing.

“Dr. also admits that he did not consider the risk of communicability to Bob Baucom’s wife,” Shemin wrote. Baucom, Baucom’s wife, has tested positive for hepatitis C, according to the filing.

The lawsuit said ’s failure to disclose the illness to Bobby Baucom has shortened his life and put his wife in danger.

“For more than five years, Bob Baucom has been denied the option of treatment by Dr. , and his liver condition has worsened,” Shemin wrote. “[He ] experiences sluggishness and fatigue, and he cannot complete daily tasks as he used to.”

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