This is great news, he said sarcastically.
Thousands of veterans are reportedly at risk for HIV after receiving colonoscopies using apparatus with unclean water pumps at both the Miami and Augusta, Ga., VA hospitals. The Miami Herald reports:
“The hospital discovered March 4 that the pumps — which are attached to the tubes used in the procedures — were being rinsed but not disinfected. This, (Miami VA chief of staff John) Vara said, creates the slight chance that back-flow from the pumps could lead to serious or potentially deadly infections.”
The revelation comes after almost 6,500 veterans in “Murfreesboro, Tenn., were urged to get blood tests after the VA discovered there had been improper handling of equipment used for colonoscopies,” the Herald article by Robert Samuels went on to say. This happened back in February.
You can only guess how safe that makes me feel after having a colonoscopy a few months ago at the Houston VA hospital. Even though it isn’t one of the hospitals mentioned, something like that shaves off a little confidence. What the hell is going on with these folks anyway? Getting a colonoscopy isn’t a great bundle of fun as it is. VA Secretary Gen. Eric Shinskei needs to kick some butt, no pun intended.