HIV POSITIVE after VA clinic mistake

The VA is looking into whether there’s a connection between a patient’s positive HIV test and unsterilized equipment that may have exposed thousands of veterans to infectious diseases.

This was the first positive reported test since the VA warned vets treated at three clinics that there might be a risk.

The VA did report that hepatitis was found in 16 patients.  But then stated that it isn’t certain that the patients got the illnesses because of unsterilized equipment at a VA clinic.  According to the Associated Press, the VA is looking into the possible relationship between the two.

Earlier this year, the VA warned thousands of vets to get blood tests because they could have been exposed to contamination while getting colonoscopies in Murfreesboro, Tenn., and Miami.

The endoscopic equipment in question was also used at an ear, nose and throat facility in Augusta, Ga. All three sites failed to properly sterilize the equipment between treatments.

The VA has said it does not yet know if veterans who were treated with the same kind of equipment at its other 150 hospitals may have been exposed to the same mistake.  The VA has now instituted a nationwide safety training campaign.

To date, less than a third — 3,174 — have been notified of their test results.

In all, at least five veterans have tested positive for hepatitis B and 11 for hepatitis C, which is potentially life-threatening.

These are our veterans.  The heroes of our nation.  Yet, they receive medical treatment at subpar facilities who aren’t focused on top notch care.  Going to fight for our country and returning to a facility where you contract an infectious disease is appalling and unacceptable.  If the Obama administration wants to take a look at changing our health care system, how about starting with our veterans health care?