Veterans Affairs faces questions on colonoscopies
WASHINGTON -- Lawmakers on Tuesday blasted officials of the Department of Veterans Affairs after hearing testimony that the agency still wasn't following procedures for handling endoscopes, months after discovering that botched colonoscopies may have exposed veterans to hepatitis and HIV.
Endoscopes are used for checking the colon, nose and throat.
"I'm outraged that any of our nation's heroes were potentially infected or that they even have to worry about the possibility," said Rep. Harry Mitchell, D-Ariz., chairman of the Veterans Affairs subcommittee on oversight and investigations.
Investigators with the inspector general's office at the VA testified at Tuesday's subcommittee hearing that fewer than half of the VA medical center using endoscopes had standardized cleaning procedures and could show they properly trained their staffs for using the equipment. That finding was based on surprise inspections of 42 VA facilities in May.
The investigation came after the VA discovered in December 2008 and January of this year that endoscopes at VA facilities in Murfreesboro, Tenn.; Miami; and Augusta, Ga., were not maintained properly, possibly exposing veterans to the fluids of other patients.
In February, the VA began warning about 10,000 former patients — some who had colonoscopies and other endoscopic procedures as far back as 2003 — that they may have been exposed to HIV and hepatitis infections.
The agency said that six veterans who took the follow-up blood checks tested positive for HIV, 34 tested positive for hepatitis C and 13 tested positive for hepatitis B. There is no way to prove whether the infections came from VA procedures
Mitchell said he plans to ask the inspector general's office to repeat its surprise inspections within 90 days.
Agency officials apologized Tuesday for the continued weaknesses and told lawmakers that they would do better. Veterans Affairs Secretary Eric Shinseki said he was taking disciplinary action.
John Daigh, the VA's assistant inspector general who led the review, said the findings "troubled me greatly."
