VA hospital may have accidentally infected 1800+ veterans with HIV



Wait... need some clarification here

"Dr. Gina Michael, the association chief of staff at the hospital, told the affiliate that some dental technicians broke protocol by handwashing tools before putting them in cleaning machines. The instruments were supposed to only be put in the cleaning machines, Michael said."

So we have people doing dental procedures who decide to rinse their instruments after procedures before putting them in the autoclave. Obviously these instruments would not include needles, and any non-metallic instruments are going to be dumped in the medical waste trash. So then the only likely way for HIV infected blood to transfer between hosts would be for someone to wash their hands at the sink with some level of contact, and then put their washed hands onto an open wound. Now all the dentists I've known use latex gloves, so their washed hands are safely separated from their patient.

Given that, I'd say the chances of the dentist getting HIV from this rinsing practice have to be incredibly higher than any of their patients, and the entire concern is blown out of proportion. Can anyone in the medical field verify what I'm missing here?
 
My dad passed away a year ago from a lot of medical problems. One of the things that strikes me about all this that 3-4 months before he passed away he found out he had hepatitis. He doesn't know how he could of got it and why they never found out sooner.

Anyway 3-4 days before he died they took him to the VA hospital because he couldnt deal with the pain anymore and wanted to be on morphine. To make a long story short he went into the VA somewhat OK but 4 days later he died.

I hear a lot of horror stories from vets about the VA and I wouldn't doubt it if a lot of them were true. I wouldn't be surprised if the VA actually helps speed up the process of death for many patients who aren't expected to make a recovery. Its kinda sad, I hope its not true but it wouldn't shock me at all if a lot of stuff that happens to people in the VA hospitals is intentional.
 
Reporter: "So you broke procedure, and there's a possibility that someone who licks the rinsing bowl with an open mouth wound might get infected with HIV?"

"Well, yeah, but the odds are so remote..."

Reporter: "And how many total people have been served at this facility with this incorrect procedure in place?"

"Like 1800, but the odds are very slim that anyone would have contracted it..."

Reporter: "Wow! 1800 potential HIV victims! I'm gonna be front page!"
 
2 concerns arise.

1st - Welcome to the future with Gov't healthcare.

2nd - With these things happening on a National scale, there will not be enough medication to go around. Thus, I give you...Death panels.
 
I use the VA and have no complaints. The biggest problem is dealing with the bureaucracy and getting appointments, waiting in lines, paper work, etc. Other than that, the care is top notch.