Outpatient cosmetic surgery is often sold as quick, affordable, and low risk. But when clinics cut corners on safety and post‑operative care, patients can end up in the hospital or worse. This is especially true in high‑volume cosmetic surgery chains and loosely regulated “recovery houses,” where vulnerable patients may be left without real medical oversight at the most critical moments. The Dangerous Illusion of “Easy” Cosmetic Surgery Across the country, cosmetic surgery

Outside the Virginia State Capitol this week, a group of advocates made their voices heard — demanding that lawmakers take meaningful action on nursing home quality. Their message was urgent, personal, and, for many of them, long overdue. The demand from advocates came after the General Assembly’s recent session failed to address issues disrupting nursing home care and quality in Virginia. Earlier this month and late last month, Sen. Glen Sturtevant (R-Chesterfield and Rawls

Richmond oncologist Attique Samdani had his medical license revoked for up to three years after the Virginia Board of Medicine found he made inappropriate sexual comments and touched a woman against her will while acting as her mentor. Although three sexual assault allegations have been reported to police, no criminal charges have been filed due to the statute of limitations or victims choosing not to pursue a case. Our firm has recently been contacted by multiple individuals

Rawls Law Group represented a 58‑year‑old Virginia woman who underwent surgery for bladder prolapse. During the post‑operative bladder challenge, a hospital nurse overfilled the woman's bladder to more than double the normal capacity and failed to timely catheterize her despite complaints of pain. The nurse's negligence caused a permanent bladder sprain, recurrent urinary tract infections, and voiding dysfunction. The case was resolved at mediation for $400,000 with Justice R

Our firm recently secured a $200,000 settlement for an 80-year-old man who developed severe, preventable pressure ulcers while recovering at a Virginia rehabilitation facility following orthopedic surgery. After undergoing surgery for a left elbow fracture, our client was admitted to a skilled nursing facility for post-operative care without any pressure ulcers and was assessed as being at high risk for skin breakdown due to limited mobility. Despite this known risk, the faci

Important Legal Notice Below is a testimony provided by Mandy Moore, a Desputanta woman who had her medical care managed and facilitated by Dr. Sasa Grae Espino. Moore is one of many patients seen and treated by Dr. Espino. If you have been treated by Dr. Espino and have a similar story to Moore, you are not alone. For more information and the full interview, please visit CBS 6 News or click here for the full article: $25M Lawsuit: Woman claims Va. breast surgeon performed 'u

One of the most confusing aspects of military and VA medical malpractice is determining who actually qualifies as a federal employee covered by the Federal Tort Claims Act. Veterans and military families reasonably assume that everyone providing care at VA hospitals or military treatment facilities works for the federal government. That assumption can be wrong, and it can destroy legal claims. The FTCA only covers federal employees acting within their scope of employment. Con

When priorities change for our clients, it matters to us too. Here at Rawls Law Group, we handle FTCA claims against the VA from start to finish on a constant and regular basis, and we have been doing so for decades. Naturally, we know better than anyone that navigating FTCA claims is usually not a quick process. In our experience, claims can often take a year or more depending on how (un)responsive the agency is. However, not everyone has time to waste. We filed a recurrent

Anesthesia cases represent some of the most technically complex Virginia medical malpractice claims we handle. When patients suffer injuries during surgery—hypoxic brain damage, awareness during anesthesia, medication errors—establishing what went wrong and why requires understanding the nuances of anesthesia practice and monitoring standards. The standard of care requires continuous monitoring throughout surgical procedures. Before surgery begins, anesthesiologists must veri

Informed consent represents one of the fundamental principles of modern medicine—the idea that patients have the right to understand and agree to medical treatments before they occur. When healthcare providers fail to properly inform patients about risks, benefits, and alternatives, it can constitute medical malpractice. What Informed Consent Really Means True informed consent goes beyond simply signing a form. It requires healthcare providers to explain: The Nature of the Pr

Medical errors in Maryland hospitals have reached alarming levels, with 808 serious incidents reported in 2023 – the highest number in...