It’s enough to make one wonder whatever happened to that basic principle of medical practice “at the very least – do no harm”. The VA recently announced that more than 10,000 veterans in the southeastern United States have potentially been exposed to serious illness as the result of cross-contaminated medical equipment.

The equipment was used during endoscopic procedures, including colonoscopies, at three VA medical centers: Murfreesboro, TN, between April 2003 and to December 2008, Augusta, GA. between January and November 2008, and Miami, FL. between May 2004 and March 2009. The equipment was improperly sterilized after use.

So far, the VA has sent letters to 10,555 veterans who are at risk for infection as the result of these procedures. The letters advise them of the danger and invite veterans to undergo additional testing to determine if they have, in fact, been infected.

More than 3,000 veterans have been tested to date and the results are rather alarming. Twenty-two veterans have tested positive for Hepatitis B (5), Hepatitis C (11) and the Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV) (6).

The results do not necessarily prove that these infections were actually caused by diagnostic testing at the affected VA facilities, but they do raise the disturbing possibility. In response, the VA, in addition to notifying potentially exposed veterans about the danger, is offering testing, treatment and counseling services. The VA is following up on notification letters that have been returned as undeliverable, as well as reaching out to homeless veterans with no known address.

Although VA officials have described the situation as “unacceptable” and are “extremely concerned about this matter”, the fact remains that in two VA medical centers, veterans were potentially exposed to contaminated invasive equipment for as long as five years! This is not merely unacceptable, it is unconscionable.

VA Secretary Eric Shinseki and newly-confirmed Deputy Secretary Scott Gould need to get on top of this issue immediately to safeguard veterans’ health. Otherwise, their credibility and promises of VA health care reform will be seriously compromised. This is what VetsFirst means by demanding meaningful accountability on the part of the VA. It is not about pointing fingers, but fixing problems – quickly and permanently.

If you are, or know of, a veteran that may have been potentially exposed to contaminated VA medical equipment, please call 1-877-575-7256 for additional information.