Here’s what you should know:
1. The cases were performed by three physicians; two no longer work at the center and the other is no longer seeing patients at the center, but still works for the VA.
2. The VA contacted all four veterans or their family members, and discovered one veteran had died of colon issues.
3. Oscar G. Johnson VA Medical Center performed the reviews in response to concerns that one of the three physicians who no longer work at the hospital was performing colonoscopies in an “outdated manner.”
4. The surgeon accused of performing the colonoscopies conducted approximately 2,000 at Oscar G. Johnson VA before transferring to another VA facility in Oregon. The VA didn’t charge the physician, but did note he performed several outdated practices.
5. Concerns over the outdated colonoscopies prompted the VA to conduct both an internal and a third-party review.
6. VA spokesman Terrence Hayes said, “This is not the standard of care we provide to veterans and their family members who entrust us with their health care. The doctor involved in this veteran’s care no longer works for VA.”
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