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The Miami Veteran Administration Hospital has added insult to injury for dozens of patients who underwent a colonoscopy at the hospital.
79 patients who may have been exposed to HIV a year ago are just now being notified.
By TODD WRIGHT
Updated 6:00 PM EDT, Tue, Jul 6, 2010
Hospital officials admitted Tuesday that it failed to notify 79 patients who may have been exposed to deadly diseases as a result of dirty and contaminated equipment used in the procedure.
Dr. Robert Jesse, the VA principal deputy undersecretary for health, said in a telephone conference call Tuesday the 74 patients should have been included when about 2,400 former Miami VA patients were notified in March 2009 to get tests for HIV, hepatitis and other infections.
Jesse called it an "inexcusable situation."
It's unclear how the 79 patients were left out of the loop, but the delay could be potentially fatal. Hospital director Mary Berrocal, who said she was heartbroken when the news broke last year, has been reassigned as a result of the recent mistake.
At least two Miami patients have already been reported to have contracted HIV after having a colonoscopy at the Miami VA hospital.
The VA sent letters to more than 3,000 veterans who had colonoscopies at the Miami VA hospital informing them that improperly cleaned equipment might have exposed them to hepatitis B, hepatitis C and HIV. Similar problems arose at VA hospitals in Tennessee and Georgia with more than 11,000 veterans potentially exposed to the unsanitary equipment.
Records show that among the patients at the three hospitals who heeded VA warnings to get follow-up blood checks, eight tested positive for HIV. Twelve former patients have tested positive for hepatitis B and 37 have tested positive for hepatitis C.
Juan Rivera of North Miami was the first to file a lawsuit against the government after he claims he contracted HIV after a colonoscopy. The VA claims there is no way to know if patients actually received diseases from the contaminated equipment.
Copyright Associated Press / NBC Miami First Published: Jul 6, 2010 4:34 PM EDT
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