Maggots Infested Noses of Two Comatose Patients (at a United States Veteran's Hospital!)

Reuters ^ | 3-25-2002

[Cagey]

CHICAGO (Reuters) - Two comatose patients had maggots growing in their noses as a result of a housekeeping lapse at a Missouri hospital, researchers said on Monday.

A canteen and storage areas at Kansas City's Veteran's hospital were not properly cleaned after staff cuts in 1998, and the hospital hired exterminators for a massive infestation of mice.

Scattered mouse carcasses through the hospital brought flies, which somehow invaded the hospital's intensive care unit and laid eggs in the "fetid nasal discharge" of the two comatose patients, Dr. Richard Beckendof of the Veteran's hospital wrote in the Archives of Internal Medicine, a medical journal published by the American Medical Association.

One patient died two days after the maggots were removed, though neither patient was believed harmed by them.

[A Navy Vet]

WELL DONE, Tonk!

[Scully]

My father-in-law had a good experience with the VA. He had terminal cancer and passed away last December. I was impressed with the cleanliness of the place and the dedication of the staff. I guess it all depends on where you live.

[Khepera]

You have to admit it is an interesting way to pick your nose.

[tracer]

Dr. Beckenhof should know enough to recognize a Congressional fact-finding tour when he sees it. Maggot infestation indeed.....

[WhyisaTexasgirlinPA]

Oh Cagey, this is so sad it makes me want to cry.......

[68-69TonkinGulfYachtClub]

"My father-in-law had a good experience with the VA."

There are many dedicated and caring people working in the VA.
It's the system itself and the politicans who refuse to properly fund it that cause the problems.
Check out my post above on how Washington DC is going to "reward" Vets again in the 2003 VA Budget.

[WhyisaTexasgirlinPA]

That took a lot of courage for you to expose the practices in that hospital! Thank you Tonk - you are an inspiration.......

[TroutStalker]

Outragous bump.

[conserve-it]

"It's the system itself and the politicans who refuse to properly fund it that cause the problems."

EX-ACT-LY but we have an extra 5 billion in foreign aid for people to give us the finger with.

[B4Ranch]

The maggots came from the mouse carcasses. Cleaning up dead mice is the responsibility of the housekeepers.

[COB1]

Well done, brother!!
I salute you!

[FrogMom]

What are Al Gore and Hillary doing hanging out in Veteran's noses?

[KC Burke]

What are Al Gore and Hillary doing hanging out in Veteran's noses?

Insightful and factual analysis....the truth between the lines...the hidden information the media slides over....you are the gal to find it!

[Cagey]

Thanks for adding your insight and the links, Tonk.

[Snow Bunny]

Thank you Tonkin!

[Snow Bunny]

Cagey, thank you for this thread. It makes me sick and outrages me,I wish I could say I am shocked but I am not shocked one little bit. VA hospitals, their pharmacy's making horrible mistakes giving vets the wrong medicine and KILLING them, keeping vets waiting 4 to 5 hours for appt.s they made and waited for months to get, Doctors not showing up for appointments, not even doing complete exams.........I could make this post two pages long of complaints!!!!!!

Our veterans should be given FREE medical care and not only that but the best. Now they are even having to pay co pay and the horrific treatment is not getting any better it is a nightmare.

Yes, there are the few and far , VERY far between places that a not so bad. But across America MOST of the VA hospitals are horrible.

God forgive our Nation for how it had treated our Veterans, POW and MIA's. America has a lot to answser for and it is not just the lying politicians, it is the citizen as well. The I do not want to think about it civilian. I have my TV,my tummy is full and I don't want to be reminded civilian.

Sorry about the rant .

[68-69TonkinGulfYachtClub]

"Sorry about the rant"

YOU may rant all you want.
You earned that right long ago when you went with Bob Hope 3 different times to Viet Nam to entertain with the USO.
You are an Honorary Vet and The Guardian Angel of ALL Vets, especially the Viet Nam era ones.
You know 1st hand from your years of visits to Vets in VA hospitals.
So rant all you want and we will listen.

[mathurine]

Senator Rockefeller (D. WV) is the chair of the veteran's affairs committee. He's not a veteran, and he is a multimillionaire who has never had to work nor wonder about health care. But he is the chair. Write him.

[FrogMom]

*Blush* Thank you, sir.

I went into the veterans hospital recently with a friend. It smelled of piss. I almost cried, there is NO excuse for that.