VA patient tests positive for HIV after mistakes

CHATTANOOGA, Tenn. (AP) - The Veterans Affairs department says a patient has tested positive for HIV after being exposed to contaminated equipment at a medical facility.

The VA reported previously that hepatitis has been found in 16 patients. But the agency says there is no way to prove the patients contracted the illnesses because of treatment at their facilities.

More than 10,000 veterans have been warned to get blood tests because they could have been exposed to contamination at facilities Tennessee, Georgia and Miami. All three sites failed to properly sterilize endoscopic equipment between treatments. The VA has said patients could have been exposed to body fluids from a previous patient.

The VA on Monday did not return telephone calls and e-mails about the positive HIV test.

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VA patient tests positive for HIV after mistakes

I think we all saw it coming, I know I did, after the initial stories broke: Unsterile equipment used on Miami veterans.

This can’t be said too often or too strongly, our troops and our veterans deserve nothing less than the very best that this nation has to offer. They have, and still are, giving this nation everything they have to give, many have made the ultimate sacrifice.

The ultimate sacrifice. Not to take ANYTHING away from those troops that have died in the line of duty, but they are always regarded as heroes and given the most special treatment that can be given, and they are given the most honorable burial services this nation has to offer.

Why can’t our wounded warriors be given the same treatment? Nothing but the very best? Why can’t the men and women that have served this nation be afforded the very best in top shelf medical care in return for the sacrifices that they have made for this nation? They may not have died in service, but many contracted various disease and physical maladies, Agent Orange exposure being foremost in my mind, closely followed by radiation sickness from exposure to depleted uranium and it’s use in various applications.

So many of our veterans that did live have lost a limb, or in some cases, multiple limbs, some have been burned and scarred for life, some have lost their ability to walk, speak, hear, see, God only knows what else, and almost to a man, they would stand and do it again if their nation called.

WHY in the HELL do these heroes get this kind of treatment from the Veterans Administration hospitals that they have to rely on? Why are they facing a death sentence from those that should be making every effort to keep them alive?

More than 3,000 who had colonoscopies at VA hospital told to get HIV tests

MIAMI - Officials say more than 3,000 patients at a Veterans Affairs hospital in Miami had colonoscopies with equipment that wasn’t properly sterilized

They’ve been told they should be tested for HIV and other diseases.

The VA insists the risk of infection is minimal and only involved tubing on equipment, not any device that actually touched a patient. But it’s the second recent announcement of errors during colonoscopies at VA facilities.

Last month, more than 6,000 patients at a clinic in Tennessee were told they may have been exposed to infectious body fluids during colonoscopies.

The VA also said 1,800 veterans treated at an ear, nose and throat clinic in Augusta, Ga., were alerted they could have been exposed to an infection due to improper disinfection of an instrument.

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Unsterile equipment used on Miami veterans

This is nothing less than a travesty. Our veterans have given this nation everything they have, their health, their sanity, their arms, legs, eyes, they have given us everything they have to give, they answered the call. This is how WE take care of THEM?

We had documented cases of veteran neglect during the Bush administration, and we were led to believe that those problems were being fully addressed and dealt with. I have been hammering on this for a long time now, this was one of the stories I posted, Gov’t Struggles to Cope With Wounded GIs. The government has a responsibility to COPE with these warriors, these guys have earned the very best of care and nothing less, but what do they get? VA links poor care to 19 deaths at Ill. hospital.

About a year ago I went off on this tale of woe:

Maybe it wasn’t a deliberate attempt, maybe it’s all been just a terrible coincidence, maybe some of the deplorable conditions at some VA hospitals, conditions that have been documented, maybe that was just administrative oversight, the VA has their mission definition, and the utmost care of our Vets is their #1 priority, right?? VA lying about number of veteran suicides

Some folks think the V.A. has kept things secret, and I have to wonder, just what exactly are they not telling, and why, all of a sudden, is this unsterile equipment and threats of exposure to infected bodily fluids something our veterans have to suddenly worry about?

Recently this was proposed: Obama to Bill Combat Wounded for Medical Care. Now if that is not the pinnacle of audacity, I don’t know what is. Supposedly Obama got the message and this moonbat idea was filed away, for presentation at a later date no doubt!

I know that this nation is in a really bad place when it comes to money and having any to spend, the Wall Street guys, the car companies and not to forget, AIG, must ALL be saved, but the health and well-being of our veterans can’t be one of the items on the chopping block used to render up a few extra dollars to bail out crooked or inept businessmen. In many instances, our veterans, these fantastic men and women that have given this nation SO much, have nowhere else to turn other than the V.A., they need to know that the V.A. will be there FOR them, to HELP them, not to KILL them!