Press Releases

Rep. Frederica Wilson Visits Miami Veterans Administration Hospital with Congressional Colleagues to Discuss HIV and Hepatitis Infections

Wilson Reiterates Request for Hospital to Establish Clear Follow-up Process for Veterans Who Were Potentially Infected

Rep. Frederica Wilson (FL-17) today joined her congressional colleagues Rep. Ros-Lehtinen (FL-18), House Veterans’ Affairs Committee Chairman Jeff Miller (FL-1), and Rep. David Rivera (FL-25) on a tour of the Miami Veterans Administration (VA) Hospital to discuss the ongoing string of HIV and hepatitis infections at the facility. This is Rep. Wilson’s second tour of the hospital with her colleagues.

At today’s meeting, Rep. Wilson reiterated her request for the hospital to establish a clear follow-up process with all veterans who were potentially infected, including veterans who have decided to seek private care and treatment for their infections.

In March 2009, the VA informed 2,400 local veterans that the colonoscopies they had received might have been carried out using improperly sterilized equipment. In July 2010, an additional 79 veterans were notified of this unacceptable oversight. This year, a third notification was sent out to 12 more veterans. In total, there have been at least five veteran patients who contracted HIV, eight who contracted Hepatitis C, and one who contracted Hepatitis B at the Miami VA Hospital.

Rep. Wilson recently attended a House Veterans Affairs Committee hearing organized by Chairman Miller entitled “Sacred Obligation: Restoring Veteran Trust and Patient Safety.” The hearing focused on VA hospitals across the country failing to create standardized cleaning rules for medical equipment and failing to notify veteran patients who might have been exposed to infections.

Rep. Frederica S. Wilson is a first-term congresswoman representing the 17^th District of Florida, including Northern Miami-Dade and Southeast Broward Counties. She is a former state legislator and school principal and the founder of the 5000 Role Models for Excellence Project, a mentoring program for young males at risk of dropping out of school.