VA hospital sued over improperly cleaned tool

[unhappycamper]

VA hospital sued over improperly cleaned tool
The Associated Press
Posted : Wednesday Jul 7, 2010 11:24:11 EDT

AUGUSTA, Ga. — A patient is suing the Veterans Administration hospital in Augusta for $10 million, saying she contracted hepatitis C from an improperly cleaned instrument.

The patient, Judy Yarzebinski, says in her lawsuit that she had a laryngoscopy to evaluate her for vocal cord paralysis in September 2008 and was later notified by the VA that she might have been exposed to diseases.

She says she tested positive for hepatitis C in February 2009, but because she has a blood disorder she can't be treated for the condition.

In an answer filed last week, the federal government denies that hospital equipment was inadequately sterilized or that the staff was negligent.

About 10,000 veterans from veterans hospitals in Augusta, Miami and Murfreesboro, Tenn., were told last year they may have been exposed to infections where equipment had been improperly cleaned.

[w8liftinglady]

1. yet another thing that will be shoved under the rug-"nothing wrong here"

[w8liftinglady]

2. correct me if I'm wrong-This isn't the first we've heard of these...I'm gonna check