WASHINGTON   –  U.S. Rep. Jo Ann Emerson (MO-08) responded to an announcement by the Department of Veterans Affairs that 1,800 patients of the John Cochran VA Medical Center may have been exposed to HIV, Hepatitis B or Hepatitis C while visiting the facility’s dental clinic between February 1, 2009 and March 11, 2010.

“Americans who risked their lives for our country deserve better than this,” Emerson said.  “There is a basic level of diligence the VA ought to observe in doing their duty to our veterans and their family members.  They need to remember that these men and women are also our fathers and mothers, grandfathers and grandmothers, sons and daughters, husbands and wives.  Clearly, that message did not sink in at this facility – it’s inexcusable.”       

Emerson also demanded that VA Secretary Eric Shinseki conduct a complete investigation of the matter while assuring that each patient with potential exposure receive appropriate testing and counseling as soon as possible.

“Sending a letter to veterans who may have been exposed to these infectious diseases is not enough.  The VA needs to follow all the way through until they have tested every patient they suspect was treated with those dental instruments.  I expect a whole lot of accountability from the VA; this is a serious matter.”

The text of Emerson’s letter follows:

The Honorable Eric K. Shinseki
Secretary
The United States Department of Veterans Affairs
810 Vermont Avenue, NW
Washington, DC 20420

Secretary Shinseki,

    I am writing to express my extreme displeasure with the potential exposure of veterans to HIV, Hepatitis B, and Hepatitis C at the John Cochran St. Louis VA Medical Center.  The Department of Veterans Affairs’ lack of oversight over proper cleaning techniques for medical tools is disturbing and casts doubt on the ability of the VA in other aspects of medical care.

    Veterans of the United States Armed Forces risked their lives to protect the freedoms we hold dear to our hearts.  In return, the United States Government made a commitment to care for these brave individuals, and I am saddened to say it fell short in this instance.  I am deeply troubled that it took almost four months from the date the clinic closed to notify the veterans that they may have been exposed to these infections diseases.  This delay is unacceptable, as it has placed the families of these veterans at risk for the same diseases.  I am also upset the VA allowed the erroneous cleaning of dental instruments to persist for over 13 months.  I expect every veteran threatened by this situation to be personally contacted by a VA medical professional, and I expect every accommodation to be made for the testing of affected patients.  Finally, I demand that a full investigation into the circumstances that led to the exposure of dangerous diseases to patients of the John Cochran St. Louis VA Medical Center.

    Secretary Shinseki, our veterans deserve better medical treatment than this.  This break in protocol is unacceptable, and it is imperative that the VA undertakes a thorough and painstaking investigation into this mistake.  I look forward to a detailed response on this matter.