http://www.miamiherald.com/news/florida/AP/story/1135042.html

VA sends letter about unclean equipment
By BILL POOVEY
Associated Press Writer
CHATTANOOGA, Tenn. -- A Department of Veterans Affairs letter pledges free
medical care and treatment for former patients who have tested positive for HIV
or hepatitis since being exposed to endoscopic cleaning mistakes at three VA
hospitals in the Southeast.
But advocates for veterans contend the VA should also be quickly pledging
disability and damage payouts for some of the former patients and their
families.
National Organization of Veterans' Advocates President Richard Cohen said the VA
pledge of no-cost medical care - included in a letter received Wednesday by a
Tennessee congressman - promises nothing "that the VA wouldn't do if these
veterans were not subjected to unsanitary devices."
The VA's Web site shows seven veterans have tested positive for HIV among former
patients exposed to mistakes with rigging or cleaning endoscopic equipment at VA
hospitals in Murfreesboro, Tenn.; Augusta, Ga.; and Miami.
Another 12 veterans among about 10,000 who have gotten follow-up blood checks
have tested positive for hepatitis B and 36 others have tested positive for
hepatitis C.
The VA and independent doctors say those rates of infection are far below what
would normally be found among similar populations and a top VA doctor has said
there is no way to trace the infections to VA mistakes he described as human
error. Some medical experts disagree.
John R. Gingrich, chief of staff to VA Secretary Eric Shineski, said in the
letter to Democratic U.S. Rep. Bart Gordon of Tennessee that VA hospitals will
provide plans of medical care and treatment at no cost to the veterans.
An aide to Gordon said in an e-mail that that before Wednesday, "it was unclear
if infected veterans would have to pay the $50 co-payments each time they
received treatment as they are normally required to do."
VA spokeswoman Katie Roberts did not return telephone messages and an e-mail
seeking comment about the letter.
Some other veterans' advocates agreed with a statement by Gordon, whose district
includes the VA hospital at Murfreesboro, that the letter answering his request
that former veterans who are infected get free medical care was "one step in the
right direction."
Paul Sullivan, director of Veterans for Common Sense, said that while the letter
"appears to be good news because VA agrees to cover medical testing and
treatment, the question of long-term disability compensation for veterans
infected by VA remains open."
Cohen said the VA is saying they will provide continuing medical care for folks
already receiving medical care.
"They are not giving them anything there," Cohen said. "The issue down the line
in the case of somebody who has contracted hepatitis C or HIV or something else,
the question is are they going to make these folks jump through hurdles in order
to get" benefits or compensation?
"Somebody who receives negligent medical treatment and ends up with permanent
disability is entitled to benefits," he said.