VA hospital may have infected 1,800 veterans with HIV

CNN ^

[Scythian]

(CNN) -- A Missouri VA hospital is under fire because it may have exposed more than 1,800 veterans to life-threatening diseases such as hepatitis and HIV.

John Cochran VA Medical Center in St. Louis has recently mailed letters to 1,812 veterans telling them they could contract hepatitis B, hepatitis C and human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) after visiting the medical center for dental work, said Rep. Russ Carnahan.

Carnahan said Tuesday he is calling for a investigation into the issue and has sent a letter to President Obama about it.

"This is absolutely unacceptable," said Carnahan, a Democrat from Missouri. "No veteran who has served and risked their life for this great nation should have to worry about their personal safety when receiving much needed healthcare services from a Veterans Administration hospital."

[skeeter]

Government health care in action.

You folks are gonna LOVE it.

[Scythian]

This is just terrible.

[a fool in paradise]

political correctness is killing this nation

[Diogenesis]

SOA?

[Red Badger]

OMG!.....................If true, it’s criminal negligence......................

[Gaffer]

Obama’s VA Hospital of the Future will have its patients pay extra for living the “high risk” lifestyles. [That is before completely disqualifying them from healthcare for such]

[JBR34]

There’s a big difference between “exposed” and “infected”.

Still this is mindnumbing.

[skeeter]

Yes, and in every way imaginable.

[ConservativeMind]

This seems a non-issue. The whole problem revolves around not following “standard protocol,” which dictates that you can only have one cleaning cycle per complete cleaning, using only the cleaning machine.

What these people did was to first hand wash the equipment, then put it in the cleaning machine for a second washing.

It would appear that no one is at risk and this is all hype.

[gunnyg]

what a coincidence, seems like just the other day someone was urging all Americans to get an HIV test....

http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/news/2541862/posts?page=133

[Ayn And Milton]

Eh... my first thought: isn’t it so that, given the description of the way rules were disobeyed, that the actual risk for having contracted hepatitis or HIV is very, very, very slim, approaching zero?

This is absolutely not meant to belittle the neglect of the proper procedure, mind. But I always hate it if a header makes me startle, and then the article itself points towards something less dreadful.

In how far may this be predictive of the new health care system in the U.S.A.? Have Vet Hospitals always been giving subpar treatment, because they are federal institutions?

Just asking. I am Dutch, and an Americanophile by nature. And I like to learn things, that’s all.

[ConservativeMind]

People, READ THE DANG ARTICLE! The problem was that a hand washing AND and cleaning machine cleaning was done, when standard protocol is to only wash once with the cleaning machine.

THIS IS A NON-ISSUE! They were being MORE CAREFUL than required and are getting punished for that.

[RightOnTheBorder]

A similar thing occurred at Beaumont Army Medical Center here in El Paso. Dozens of soldiers and veterans were infected with hepatitis. Funny how I never see this happen at a privately run hospital.

[A_Former_Democrat]

This is absolutely unacceptable,” said Carnahan, a Democrat from Missouri. “No veteran who has served and risked their life for this great nation should have to worry about their personal safety when receiving much needed healthcare services from a Veterans Administration hospital.”

Democrats are all patriots when there’s a crisis/vote to be had.

(

[skeeter]

Yes,but I'm sure the 'preferred classes' will still receive their exemptions.

And you know who they are.

[dalebert]

ya population control..

[skeeter]

I don't understand your point. Did the hospital deviate from procedure, and did that result in unnecessarily exposing patients to these diseases or not?

According to the article, that is exactly what happened.

[Gene Eric]

I’m suspicious of the hand-washing argument. The tools were too sensitive for the machines, but were still processed in the machines?

Is Carnahan up for reelection?

[Gaffer]

I'm not sure about that. You see, liberals really only pander to homosexuals, minorities, etc. because the need their votes. Deep down, in private and amongst friends, a lot of liberals are some of the biggest homophobes and racists on this planet.

Now, take a leap and imagine a USA where Obama has consolidated full power, changed the electoral policy, subverted and ignored the US Constitution, and in the face of a 'national emergency' (e.g., something like a major ecological disaster, a major financial market collapse, or wholesale citizen arrest over not getting their McDonalds Morning Frappe). Badaboom! Declaration of National Emergency and seizure of full control over all government agencies, law enforcement, military and other 'helpful' groups. Next comes cessation of elections, reformation of government (without our US Constitution), 'appointment' of a ruling government body....and so on...

What you end up with is reminiscent of Mussolini, Hitler, Stalin, et al. The exact methods of implementation aren't the same (although some are eerily similar), but the results are.

I've said this before and will say it again. EVIL is Timeless. Timeless....for those too self content in their lifestyles and own predicaments to look around them, that means that EVIL exists, and evil does not overlook ANY ONE.