Lexington-VA Medical Center Improper Sterilization of Instruments, HIV, Hepatitis Risks

Full Article at: VA cataract patient warned of possible HIV exposure

Due to a mistake, the instruments were contaminated, possibly with Hepatitis or even HIV. That's what one man says doctors told him months after a surgery.

Posted: 11:28 PM Jan 6, 2011
Reporter: Gabriel Roxas

"Due to a mistake, the instruments were contaminated, possibly with Hepatitis or even HIV. That's what one man says doctors told him months after a surgery.

The surgery happened at the V.A. Hospital's Cooper Division location in Lexington. Hospital officials tell us the mixup involves several patients they are still in the process of contacting.

"I believe it's a total letdown in what I thought my government stood for. Where's the honesty? Where's the truth?" Daryl Baldwin said. Baldwin served his country in Vietnam. He says in the Army he was exposed to Agent Orange, and that has led to medical problems that have kept him going to V.A. Hospitals for years. But he thought a cataract surgery in March had gone fine... until December when doctors gave him some shocking news. "The instruments that were used on us were contaminated with Hepatitus B, Hepatitus C, and/ or HIV."

Baldwin's wife JoAnn wasn't just angry that this had happened, but that it had taken so long for them to learn about it. "I said well why did you not get a hold of us? 'Well, we finally decided that it was up to y'all to decide if you want to be tested,' and I said, you think?" JoAnn said.

"After several consultations and meetings amongst themselves, they decided that maybe it was time now nine months later to allow us to be tested or not," Daryl said.