Nearly 2,000 veterans who received care at the John Cochran VA (Veterans Administration) Medical Center in St. Louis, Missouri may contract hepatitis B, hepatitis C and HIV (human immunodeficiency virus) after being exposed to dental equipment that wasn't properly sterilized before use. It's just the latest in what many say will result in even more Veterans medical malpractice lawsuits.
VA Medical Malpractice Lawsuits
Staff at the John Cochron VA Medical Center in St. Louis Missouri exposed 1,812 veterans to hepatitis B, hepatitis C and HIV by not properly sterilizing dental equipment before performing dental procedures. According to an interview with CNN, Dr. Gina Michael, the hospitals chief of staff, said that some of the center's dental technicians hand washed dental tools before placing them into cleaning machines in which they would be sterilized – which is against the VA hospital's protocol. Affected veterans will be notified by mail.
“Absolutely Unacceptable!”
That's what Representative Russ Carnahan (D, MO) called the debacle. In addition to calling for an investigation and contacting President Obama, he was quoted as saying, “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.”
Many others, including VA medical malpractice lawyers, agree with Carnahan. They point to other VA medical malpractice and VA negligent conduct ( such as VA hospital staff exposing veterans to hepatitis B, C and HIV by using unsterilized endoscopy equipment – which endangered the lives of more than 10,000 veterans.
Do You Have A Veterans Medical Malpractice Lawsuit?
If you or someone you love has been injured due to the negligence of a VA doctor, VA nurse or other licensed VA healthcare practitioner, contact a Veterans medical malpractice lawyer to discuss your situation and evaluate your options. Keep in mind that the process of filing a Veterans medical malpractice claim is very different than filing a lawsuit which does not involve the government. Therefore, an experienced Veterans medical malpractice attorney should always be sought.