| INFECTED VETERAN
COUNT RISES TO 56 This
as VA sends letter offering care to infected vets, something for
which they already qualified.
by Larry Scott, VA Watchdog
dot Org
The number of veterans testing
positive for viral infections caused by possibly
contaminated
equipment at VA hospitals has risen to 56 ... one more than
reported two weeks ago.
The latest figures are here:
Now, the VA, in an act of
incredible generosity (that's sarcasm), has said they will treat
the infected veterans and not charge them. The VA had
previously stated they would care for the vets, but there was a
question about whether or not vets who have to pay co-pays and
deductibles would get their care for free. I would imagine
that most of the vets already qualified for full care ... but, it
is good that the VA clarified this.
Still an issue: How many
other vets were exposed at other VA facilities?
The VA has stated that there were other problem sites, but
won't say which ones and claim vets are at little, if any, risk.
-------------------------
VA offers free care to vets who might have been infected in Miami
hospital
The VA has promised free
treatment to veterans infected by improperly cleaned equipment
used in colonoscopies.
BY BILL POOVEY
Associated Press
A U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs letter pledges free medical
care and treatment for former patients who have tested positive
for HIV or hepatitis since being exposed to endoscopic cleaning
mistakes at three VA hospitals, including one in Miami.
But advocates for veterans contend the VA should also pledge
disability and damage payments.
Richard Cohen, president of the National Organization of Veterans'
Advocates, said the VA pledge of no-cost medical care -- included
in a letter received Wednesday by a congressman -- promises
nothing ``that the VA wouldn't do if these veterans were not
subjected to unsanitary devices.''
During a colonoscopy, a flexible tube called an endoscope carries
a light and camera into the intestines to look for possibly
cancerous tumors or polyps. The endoscope also has a channel that
carries water to clear the vision for the camera.
In some cases, the pump and reservoir that are used to move the
water were rinsed after being used but were not disinfected as
required, VA officials said.
 According
to the VA's website, seven veterans have tested positive for HIV
among former patients exposed to mistakes with rigging or cleaning
endoscopic equipment at VA hospitals in Miami, Murfreesboro,
Tenn., and Augusta, Ga.
Such equipment is used for colonoscopies and other procedures
An additional 48 veterans among about 10,000 who have received
follow-up blood checks have tested positive for hepatitis B or C.
The VA and independent doctors say those rates of infection are
far below what would normally be found among similar populations,
and a top VA doctor has said there is no way to trace the
infections to VA mistakes.
John R. Gingrich, chief of staff to VA Secretary Eric Shinseki,
said in the letter to U.S. Rep. Bart Gordon, D-Tennessee, that VA
hospitals would provide plans of medical care and treatment at no
cost.
An aide to Gordon wrote in an e-mail that before Wednesday, ``it
was unclear if infected veterans would have to pay the $50
co-payments each time they received treatment as [is] . . .
normally required.''
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TOPICS:
veterans, veterans' benefits, VA, Department of Veterans' Affairs,
contaminated equipment, HIV, hepatitis B, hepatitis C, endoscopic,
colonoscopy |
