Dentist’s actions at Tomah VA condemned

The fact that a dentist responsible for possibly exposing nearly 600 veterans at the troubled Tomah Veterans Affairs Medical Center to several types of infectious disease is still working there is a “stunning show of bureaucratic impunity,” House Speaker Paul Ryan said Thursday.

The reaction of Ryan (R-Janesville) came two days after Victoria Brahm, acting medical director at the center, announced that the VA is in the process of notifying 592 veterans treated by the dentist that they may be infected with hepatitis B, hepatitis C, or HIV because he did not follow proper sterilization procedures.

Brahm said the dentist was using his own equipment, then cleaning it and reusing it, which violates the VA’s regulations that call for the use of sterile and disposable equipment.

“It was purposeful that he was violating VA regulations,” Brahm said at news conference Tuesday.

“During all of the orientation, he used all of our equipment. He used it appropriately, so it was very purposeful from what we found in our investigation that he knew exactly what he was doing, and preferred to use his own equipment against procedure.”

On Thursday, Ryan condemned the fact that the dentist, who has not been identified, was removed from patient care but still working in an administrative role.

“How can our veterans be treated so carelessly and where is the accountability?” the Janesville Republican and House speaker said in a statement.

“The individual in question has not even been fired ... this demonstrates once and for all that the VA needs a complete overhaul so that our veterans finally get the care — and the respect — they deserve.”

Sen. Ron Johnson (RWis) on Thursday said those responsible for ensuring the integrity of patient care procedures at the facility must be held accountable.

“I urge all potentially affected veterans to utilize resources available to them to receive the care they need during this time,” Johnson said in a statement.

The VA is offering free medical screenings to veterans who are being notified and will provide free medical treatment for those who test positive for an infection, Brahm said.

The dentist violated procedures from October 2015 through October 2016, and the violation came to light when someone filling in for his assistant noticed what was going on and reported it, she said.

The VA has referred the case to the inspector general for assessment of any criminal charges.