Vets Test Positive For Diseases
PHILLIPS: Well, it is a disturbing story, outrageous really, and it's sure to make you ask, how in the world could this happen? Thousands of vets exposed to infectious diseases, possibly even AIDS, at three different V.A. clinics. It's a story we've been pushing forward all week to bring you the latest. And our senior medical correspondent, Elizabeth Cohen, joins me now. We actually have test results from two of those V.A. facilities, and the results are not exactly what we wanted to hear.</s>ELIZABETH COHEN, CNN SENIOR MEDICAL CORRESPONDENT: Right, exactly. There have -- there are some of these vets that are testing positive for some of these diseases. So, basically, to recap, what they found is that these two V.A. centers that there was some problems with the equipment and that vets might have gotten infected with some diseases like hepatitis or HIV. So, they called these thousands of vets in and tested them. What they found is that in Murfreesboro, Tennessee that ten vets have tested positive for viruses, four for hepatitis B and six for hepatitis C. In Augusta, Georgia, at that V.A. medical center, we're being told me that six vets have tested positive. They're not saying what they've tested positive for, but we know that they did test them for things like hepatis, HIV and for other diseases. Now, I think it's very important to be clear about what happened here. In Tennessee, what happened to possibly have caused these problems is that they switched out some parts in the machinery that they were not supposed to switch out. I mean, the manual apparently was quite clear not to do this. And then in Augusta, what happened was that they didn't disinfect some of the machinery as they were supposed to disinfect it.</s>PHILLIPS: So, how do you know if these vets -- and is there a way to prove that these vets actually got the illnesses from this machine at this facility?</s>COHEN: That is the crucial question. And right now, we are being told that they don't know how these vets got infected. All they know is these vets now have hepatis. Did they get hepatitis from a colonoscopy machine that wasn't cleaned properly? Who knows? Maybe they got hepatitis some other way. There are many ways of getting hepatitis. They might have contracted hepatitis before the colonoscopy. They might have contracted it after. They don't know, and so -- they may never know.</s>PHILLIPS: Well, what's the V.A. going to do for them, and do they have a lawsuit?</s>COHEN: Well, the V.A. says that they're going to take care of these patients and take care of their diseases. They would do that anyhow. The vets, of course, are their patients. And we asked some lawyers, do these vets now have a lawsuit? And they said, you know what, that's very tricky. It might be very hard for them to prove, aha, I got hepatitis from this colonoscopy with this dirty equipment. It's going to be hard for them to prove that because, again, you can get hepatitis a number of ways.</s>PHILLIPS: Well, we're going to keep following this. That's for sure. Elizabeth, we really appreciate it. What we didn't talk about was the Miami hospital. What about the Miami V.A. hospital that we told but this week? Inspections revealed that thousands of patients there also could be infected. Now, Florida congressmen are calling for an investigation. So, what's the status? We turn once again to Dr. John Vara. He's the chief of staff at the Miami V.A. facility. He joins me once again by phone. Dr. Vara, I appreciate you talking with us again. Let's talk about your hospital. Have any patients come forward after being tested -- and I know there are still a lot that need to be tested, thousands of them -- and said to you, or have they received their test results and are they infected?</s>DR. JOHN VARA, CHIEF OF STAFF, MIAMI V.A. HEALTHCARE (via telephone): At this point in time, we've just started getting results back, and I have no data to give you about any positives that way.</s>PHILLIPS: So, so far, no patients are coming forward with hepatis B, C or HIV?</s>VARA: At this time.</s>PHILLIPS: OK. And how many test results are in out of the couple of thousand that you have asked of the patients to take?</s>VARA: Right. At this point, you know, we just have about 200 results in. And, you know, there's -- you know, we've had over 1,000 people come in and be tested.</s>PHILLIPS: Still a couple thousand more to go. All right, a couple of questions. With regard to this patient safety alert that came forward back in December, and that was -- it came forward. You were told to check the problems with the colonoscopy equipment. What happened in the hospital, your efforts, with regard to following up on that safety alert once it came out?</s>VARA: We followed up on it. However, there appears to be a problem with that, and that's currently under investigation. When we went back with this more intense endoscopic step-up, senior leadership was very involved in that. That was a national V.A. initiative. And we're looking comprehensively at a lot of elements. And that's when the problem was discovered, and that point we disclosed that both to V.A. central office and to, ultimately, to the media and the community and congressional officers.</s>PHILLIPS: So, Dr. Vara, the alert came out in December. In January, your hospital said, hey, we've got a clean bill of health. And now look at the situation that you're in. So, where is the quality control? Do you think this was not taken seriously enough?</s>VARA: That would be very difficult for me to say at this point. We have several reviews going on. In addition, as I'm sure you know, that Secretary Shinseki is aware of this and Congressman Meeks, certainly, and Senator Nelson, that we have the office of the inspector general involved, which is actually a separate office, not directly associated with the V.A. And they're working closely with another group that's in here doing an investigative board, and we want to find out, you know, exactly how all this happened.</s>PHILLIPS: So, from this point forward, is anyone coming in for a colonoscopy? Are you giving them a colonoscopy? And do you believe in your process right now?</s>VARA: We're checking everything, and so we want to be able to absolutely say to people that, you know, we are in full compliance with everything. So, every piece from A to Z is being checked. And what we want at the end of the day is to be able to provide the absolute best care. I think Secretary Shinseki has made it perfectly clear that we need to make sure our processes are standardized and that veterans are not put at any risk, which is the same mission that we share.</s>PHILLIPS: So, Dr. Vara, if a vet were to come in today needing that procedure, would you are 100 percent confidence in giving that vet that procedure today?</s>VARA: I would say that today -- you're putting me -- tough question. I would be very confident about the procedure today.</s>PHILLIPS: OK. Dr. John Vara, we'll be following up. Appreciate your time.</s>VARA: Thank you.</s>PHILLIPS: We're going to take a quick break. We'll be right back.