Two years after 3,000 veterans at the Miami VA Medical Center learned they had undergone endoscopic procedures with unsterilized equipment, putting them at risk for contracting HIV, hepatitis and other deadly infections, the facility continues to suffer problems that affect patient care, members of the House Veterans’ Affairs Committee said Wednesday.
From a delay in notifying 18 veterans that their personal information recently was sold for profit, to a miscommunication in August that resulted in the death of an Air Force veteran, the list of issues at the Miami VA is vast — and no one is being held accountable, committee members said.
The committee sponsored the hearing to address specific problems at the Miami VAMC and question a top VA official about department management practices, safety and what several House members called a “culture of fear” that discourages employees from reporting problems.