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NY Veterans Hospital: More Than 700 Patients May Have Been Exposed to HIV

Jan. 13, 2013 11:58pm Erica Ritz

New York Veterans Hospital: 700 Patients May Have Been Exposed to HIV in Insulin Mix Up

(Photo: Shutterstock/VILevi)

(TheBlaze/AP) — The Veterans Administration has told western New York members of Congress that more than 700 patients at the Buffalo VA Medical Center may have been exposed to HIV, hepatitis B or hepatitis C because of accidental reuse of insulin pens, according to a published report.

Authorities told The Buffalo News, which first published the report on its website Friday, that there is a “very small risk” for the diabetic patients who may have been exposed to the reused insulin pens between Oct. 19, 2010 and November 2012.

The VA memo obtained by the News said the problem was discovered by a routine pharmacy inspection last Nov. 1.

The hospital “recently discovered that is some cases, insulin pens were not labeled for individual patients,” Evangeline Conley, a spokeswoman for the hospital, told the newspaper. “Although the pen needles were always changed, an insulin pen may have been used on more than one patient.”

Conley said that once this was discovered the hospital “immediately changed its procedures to prevent insulin pens from being reused.

Insulin pens used by diabetics to inject insulin can be disposable or reusable with replaceable needles and cartridges. But according to the Institute for Safe Medication Practices, even reusable pens should not be used on more than one patient.

After seeing the VA’s memo, Rep. Chris Collins, a Republican who represents the Buffalo area, said he spoke with Dr. Robert A. Petzel, undersecretary for health at the Department of Veterans Affairs.

“His thought was that it’s a very, very low chance of passing infection,” Collins said. “But it’s not out of the realm of possibility, and that’s why they’re testing everyone,” Collins told the News.

Though the VA is being “open and transparent” about the negligence, he noted that it “doesn’t diminish the fact that it did go on for two years here.”

Sen. Charles Schumer (D-N.Y.) was equally upset, calling for an investigation into what “can only be described as the grossest of irresponsible and dangerous behavior.”

The VA said it is offering free blood tests to rule out infections in those who have been treated.

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Comments (56)

Vickie Dhaene
Posted on January 14, 2013 at 10:30am
Reused insulin pens? Really?!

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1_Smoot_Tall
Posted on January 14, 2013 at 10:19am
From each according to his infection to each according to his health. Obamacare is next.

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- G-WHIZ
  Posted on January 14, 2013 at 11:08am
  Donna forget that “artist” who sprayed AIDS-BLOOD all over the audience…as “art”.
  
  Report this comment
jessieH
Posted on January 14, 2013 at 10:18am
There are no accidents.

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- objectivetruth
  Posted on January 14, 2013 at 1:56pm
  Yes I’m well aware of that.Now so too are some of you.I haven’t come on this website to share simply due to an attention craving.I’ve shared certain tidbits so you know what they are truly up to.It really is hitler care.Just as the concentration camps weren’t accidental neither will the american version be.
  Wait until the false diagnosis’s start coming in.Usually ones that have potentially fatal treatments.
  One that works well is the insertion of sponges plastics in the intestinal tract.All they need is you drugged[legally or not during surgery or more likely home based care]they are inserted and produce the symptoms of cancer cholera aids.Whatever the freaks may want to use.No all the tests come back negative.It still doesn’t stop them from trying to pull it off though.Nor stop them from trying to get paid for the same.Its just one of many the modern day nazis use.So an accidental stick with infected needles is a god send cover for them.
  
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Minnaloushe
Posted on January 14, 2013 at 10:10am
Accidental my ass.

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dmerwin
Posted on January 14, 2013 at 9:46am
“Accidental reuse”??? As a nurse I find that hard to believe. Welcome to the face of government health care aka O-care.

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formergasman
Posted on January 14, 2013 at 8:56am
I took my father to this “hospital” 3 years ago when his health was failing & he wanted treatment. I was in the room with him when he was told the only way he would be admitted was if he signed a DNR!! He wouldn’t do it & I took him home. A few months later he went back via ambulance & they had to admit him, but by then it was too late,he died a few days later. Even then, they were still trying to get him to sign a DNR, even resorting to trickery to confuse him into signing. I make it a point to tell any Vet I encounter to avoid the Buffalo V.A. hospital like the plague! “Obamacare” is already here!

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- objectivetruth
  Posted on January 14, 2013 at 1:46pm
  This is patently illegal and immoral.File a complaint to oig.You should have done it then.Its still not to late even though your father is dead.
  
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hempstead1944
Posted on January 14, 2013 at 8:30am
” Accidental reuse” What the hell is that ?

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Beachbaby
Posted on January 14, 2013 at 8:29am
This was probably done on purpose by a third world UNQUALIFIED dirty so called nurse. Have you seen them? They are here to kill in the name of MISTAKES.

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- Priscilla King
  Posted on January 14, 2013 at 10:39am
  When hospital personnel get in a hurry, they “forget” annoying little things they have to do literally a hundred times a day. Like washing their hands. But changing needles? Yep, I can see it. “Oh well none of my patients is HIV-positive, so why bother.” Don’t kid yourself, Beachbaby, I’ve seen U.S. citizens skip the hand-washing, and I’ve seen the patients come down with infectious NOT contagious diseases as a result. Black-haired twits expect everybody in the world to be as young and hardy as they are…don’t get me started.
  
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- objectivetruth
  Posted on January 14, 2013 at 1:58pm
  You have heard the term accidentally on purpose.It fits.
  
  Report this comment
piper60
Posted on January 14, 2013 at 7:59am
Accident my backside. My father-in-law had an intestinal obstruction, but when he sowed up at the VA hospital to find out what was causing his pain, the “Dr” told him that there was nothing wrong. He ended up in a civilian hospital for 3 days. Chances are, the VA will try to force him to pay the co-insurance because it wasn’t part of their so called diagnosis. AND He’s a WWII vet. Damn shame what happened in Buffalo, too.

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IOWAGIR
Posted on January 14, 2013 at 7:50am
I pray it really was an accident. How tragic and I hope they are all in the clear. I can’t help to think that with O-sh^t care and everything being on a database that the government has access to along with soon to be your financial records (and anything else that the secratary deems to be needed) that it doesn’t seem like an accident. We know the government has experimented on our military before and purposely infected people or pretended to be treating them while doing something else. I bet gun ownership will be tied to the medical record database. What a great way to scare people into getting tested where otherwise they may not have even thought about doing so on their own. Just saying…Thank you all who have served and your families. Thank you to all who continue to serve and I pray for you all. God Bless.

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- loriann12
  Posted on January 14, 2013 at 8:00am
  Although I’d believe almost anything about the VA, this was probably just gross negligence. They probably have been reusing those pens for YEARS, let alone on different patients. From what I’ve seen at the staff, they aren’t intelligent enough to know the difference between multiple use/single patient and multiple use/multiple patients.
  
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ares338
Posted on January 14, 2013 at 7:17am
So we lose a few of those expensive old vets…who cares? We have food stamps to give out and babies to abort.

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- IOWAGIR
  Posted on January 14, 2013 at 8:03am
  I agree. What a great way to scare folks into getting tested so that the government will have that info. Now that our records and financial records will be on a national database that the government will have access to. I bet gun ownership records will be tied to that database also with the new odumbass care law. They did leave it open to the secretary to decide what evere else she feels in needed. It wouldn’t surprise me if this so called accident happened elesewhere and they suggest for precationary reasons they recomend that all patients at VAs that got these kind of shots get tested. The practice was more wide spread than they though. Yes it sounds conspirital but can you really trust the government especially these days?
  
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Free2speakRN
Posted on January 14, 2013 at 7:06am
I’m afraid that this is a drop in the bucket compared to Obamacare. Only with Obamacare we’ll never know. We’ll just die.

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- WarMunger_Al
  Posted on January 14, 2013 at 7:15am
  considering if a guy got hiv, it is forever. I will never get another shot at a VA facility again. MAkes you wonder how long they really were doing this? How many other VA hospitals have been doing this?
  
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The-Monk
Posted on January 14, 2013 at 3:13am
Winders 8 test…..

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- The-Monk
  Posted on January 14, 2013 at 3:15am
  Ha !!! Winders 8 doesn’t have the “submit” button and doesn’t log you out either.
  
  Report this comment
- The-Monk
  Posted on January 14, 2013 at 3:25am
  Note to self…. “show all content” selection makes this possible in IE10.
  
  Report this comment
- The-Monk
  Posted on January 14, 2013 at 3:51am
  Winders 8 with Firefox test….
  
  Report this comment
- The-Monk
  Posted on January 14, 2013 at 3:52am
  Note to self… Winders 8 with Firefox 18.0 has the “submit” button.
  
  Report this comment
- SacredHonor1776
  Posted on January 14, 2013 at 4:28am
  That’s not a note to self, you made a note to the entire world… ;)
  
  Lol while I realize it’s the sites’ fault, your posts are getting to be a bit spammy (I.e. off topic, and repeating the same posts in multiple threads)! Be careful hopefully some over zealous admin doesn’t block you from posting.
  
  Report this comment
- The-Monk
  Posted on January 14, 2013 at 4:53am
  Hi SacredHonor1776,
  
  Actually, I’m testing the issues The Blaze is having. Where I was testing earlier was not on my computer so I made some notes and posted them to save once I got home. I just have fun doing stuff like this and even though it’s off topic it’s not something that will get me banned.
  
  BTW, how are you doing this fine morning?
  
  Report this comment
- SacredHonor1776
  Posted on January 14, 2013 at 6:20am
  Good, bit nippy outside but good.
  
  Report this comment
- loriann12
  Posted on January 14, 2013 at 8:02am
  Have you noticed sticking keys before you changed to Windows 8? Mine skips letter as I type and I’m constantly backing up so don’t sound like an idiot who can’t spell….
  
  Report this comment
- The-Monk
  Posted on January 14, 2013 at 11:59am
  @loriann12
  
  I was on someone else computer that already had Win8 on it.
  
  Report this comment
raderby
Posted on January 14, 2013 at 3:08am
gov’t – run health services…… just as it has been, and will be – inefficient, costly, and bad.

Let’s have some more edicts from king Zero passed into law,…… why not, huh? The guy IS a genius, after all.

what a big pile of dump all this is.

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- Cavallo
  Posted on January 14, 2013 at 6:44am
  Coming soon to all hospitals.
  
  Report this comment
Heather Cocolin
Posted on January 14, 2013 at 2:12am
He got his Obamacare.
Let’s not let him get his Obamagunban.
Guns Across America
January 19, 2013
http://www.examiner.com/article/guns-across-america-rallies-being-organized-for-saturday-jan-19th-2013?cid=rss

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denkat56
Posted on January 14, 2013 at 1:38am
Obama deserves the credit for this. His not supporting of the military and the cuts in defense. Is causing all this. Not enough nurse’s and doctors, the long hours. I’ve been to the V A in slc, It. They have always treated me with respect and courtesy. Answering any and every question or concern that I had or have.
.

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- Plan B
  Posted on January 14, 2013 at 7:09am
  SLC is not the rest of the country, believe me!! My oldest was disabled in Iraq and Chicago VA was like being on another planet! I was dumbfouned by the terrible care.
  
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- WarMunger_Al
  Posted on January 14, 2013 at 7:17am
  maybe they infected you as well. Hard to know. Better pay extra attention where they get the needle when you give blood samples
  
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- loriann12
  Posted on January 14, 2013 at 8:06am
  My husband went to the VA in Dallas, and the only white faces were he janitorial staff. They actually came into his room and told him to turn off FoxNews, because it was propaganda. All the nurses were grossly obese with attitude.
  
  Report this comment
LeadNotFollow
Posted on January 14, 2013 at 1:12am
ObamaCare sucks eggs!

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- mercenary4freedom
  Posted on January 14, 2013 at 1:45am
  I question everything when I go to the VA. So much that they ask me, hey dude, how should we do this? There are some good people working there and then there are some real douchenozzles.
  
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LeadNotFollow
Posted on January 14, 2013 at 1:08am
The Obama administration hates our military personnel and veterans.
Is this horrible incident purely a huge incompetent mistake? I think not.

We are thankful for everyone who have served in the military.
God bless our veterans.

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SarahBeALightInTheDarkness
Posted on January 14, 2013 at 12:59am
:( terrible.

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cosmic dogma
Posted on January 14, 2013 at 12:54am
Welcome to government healthcare.

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justangry
Posted on January 14, 2013 at 12:54am
There’s your ACA death panels for you. Ooops

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Chuck Stein
Posted on January 14, 2013 at 12:52am
Why does this sort of thing happen so much at veterans’ hospitals?

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- CatB
  Posted on January 14, 2013 at 12:57am
  You mean GOVERNMENT run hospitals? Obamacare for ALL (except of course the people who passed it without reading and the rest of the elites in the government)
  
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banjarmon
Posted on January 14, 2013 at 12:38am
Keep it simple…REPEAL OBAMACARE NOW!!!

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Witness1974
Posted on January 14, 2013 at 12:21am
Government health care at it’s best.

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- missdagnytaggart
  Posted on January 14, 2013 at 12:52am
  Coming soon to all of us!
  
  Fortunately it would take nothing short of a miracle for anyone to become infected with HIV because of this. A person only has a 1 in 300 chance of contracting HIV after an exposure to HIV infected blood- and you’d have to have blood with a high viral load and be poked with a large bore needle full of that blood. Thankfully insulin is injected into subcutaneous tissue which isn’t very vascular so hopefully these good folks will be in the clear.
  
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demsrtraitors
Posted on January 14, 2013 at 12:04am
doesn’t sound like an accident.

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- CatB
  Posted on January 14, 2013 at 12:11am
  Agree .. sounds like someone cutting corners .. btw at one time part of my job was entering “incident” reports into the computer at a hospital … I try to avoid hospitals .. people would not believe the mistakes that are made.
  
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- QuincySmith
  Posted on January 14, 2013 at 12:52am
  CatB;
  
  I avoid them too. Too many sick people there.
  
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- CatB
  Posted on January 14, 2013 at 12:59am
  @QUINCYSMITH
  
  Hospitals are no place for sick people .. full of germs and over-tired people. ;-)
  
  Report this comment

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