VA Letter to Infected Vets Offers to Forgo Co-pay

Seems that other Veteran advocates share our concerns, as we wrote yesterday, The remaining question is all the associated costs caused by the infection and stress related illnesses to the veteran and his family.

AP writer Bill Poovey published in the Miami Herald,
National Organization of Veterans' Advocates President Richard Cohen said the VA pledge of no-cost medical care - included in a letter received Wednesday by a Tennessee congressman - promises nothing "that the VA wouldn't do if these veterans were not subjected to unsanitary devices." He goes on to say "They are not giving them anything there." "The issue down the line in the case of somebody who has contracted hepatitis C or HIV or something else, the question is are they going to make these folks jump through hurdles in order to get" benefits or compensation?

"Somebody who receives negligent medical treatment and ends up with permanent disability is entitled to benefits."

VA silent on compensating for endoscopic mistakes

An attorney for veterans potentially exposed to HIV and other infections by colonoscopies at three Department of Veterans Affairs hospitals said his clients are waiting to hear if they will be compensated for mistakes that led to congressional hearings and new VA spending on patient safety.

A spokeswoman for the VA declined to comment about prospects for compensation. Yet some those exposed have stated that VA sent them letters and in some cases contacted them by telephone: "stating they are sending them some documents and they will be considering some compensation.", according to Nashville lawyer Mike Sheppard who has about 50 of the VA's former endoscopic patients as clients. He said complaints about VA medical care must be filed under the federal torts claim law.

Full Article:
by Bill Poovey
VA silent on compensating for endoscopic mistakes

3 More Veterans Test Positive Following Exposure to Contaminated Endoscopes

VA just posted the Positive test results as of 22 June 2009.

The Miami VA medical center is showing 1 more HIV positive result.
Miami Test Results

The Alvin C. York Campus in Murfreesboro showing 2 more positive Hepatitis C test results, total to date is 24 veterans testing positive.
Murfreesboro Test Results

Contaminated Endoscopy Exposure May Show Positive Years Later

Report No. 09-01784-146 June 16, 2009 VA Office of Inspector General
According to the VAOIG Report No. 09-01784-146 dated June 16, 2009, following exposure to hepatitis B, C and HIV it could take " a prolonged time period, e.g., months to years for such infection to become apparent."

Given this fact, we are again urging all those exposed to get tested and continue to get tested in accordance with the advise of your private physician.

Also of note is that if you experienced illness within days of your endoscopy procedure, get your medical records because you may have suffered from a “bacterial cross contamination" which "would result in illness within days of the endoscopy.”