The Murfreesboro Tennessee VA announced that from April 23, 2003 until December 1, 2008 veterans who had colonoscopies performed in the VA of Murfreesboro may have been exposed to HIV and Hepatitis C, due to a valve that was not properly sanitized and or attached to the medical machine used in the procedure.
The Murfreesboro VA believes that close to 6 thousand veterans may have been exposed to the body fluids of others, as the valve used in the colonoscopy was not properly cleaned and or placed correctly on the machine. The Alvin C. York VA Center of Murfreesboro has announced that they are offering free blood tests to determine if any veteran has contracted the deadly diseases. These free screenings have been offered via a letter sent out to veterans.
HIV and Hepatitis C are deadly diseases, you can have one or both and not be aware of it. It is important to follow up with at the Murfreesboro VA and have your blood tested. I am in hopes that no veteran will test positive, but what if you do test positive, what happens then?
Do you have rights against the Murfreesboro VA? Yes you do have rights, you should expect not to be exposed to someones body fluids by having a routine colonoscopy. If you do test positive for any diseases related to this treatment, you do have legal rights, although they are somewhat different because it involves the United States Government. Your claim may fall under the GTLA, (Governmental Tort Liability Act), I have filed suit under the GTLA before, it is not easy to take on the government and there are many hurdles to doing so, but in this case it may be required if you test positive for any diseases related to the colonoscopy procedure.
Your rights as a Veteran under the GTLA in regards to the Murfreesboro VA have deadlines and procedures that must be met to secure your claim. I would be pleased to speak to you and review your facts. There is no excuse for veterans of the United States to be subjected to such mistakes.
I would be pleased to speak with you at anytime about your situation. I have already spoken to several veterans and reviewed facts of the procedure, please feel free to phone me toll free at (877) 271-2633 or local at (615) 308-2633.
Daniel L. McMurtry, Esq