NewsChannel 5.com - Nashville, Tennessee - Woman Blames Hospital For HPV Virus

Woman Blames Hospital For HPV Virus

NASHVILLE, Tenn. - The Veterans Administration admitted a medical mistake could have put thousands of veterans treated at three hospitals at risk for infection, and a Nashville area woman claimed she was one of them.

The VA hospital patient ‘Jane Doe' stepped forward and said the testing for viruses must be broadened.

"So, it could very well be a death sentence - just a slow one," said ‘Jane Doe.'

The virus she claimed she contracted at the VA hospital in Murfreesboro.

"It's kind of really shattered what's really going on in my life right now: I'm not in school. I can't work. I don't know what the future's going to bring," said ‘Jane Doe.'

The patient claimed she was newly diagnosed with anal and rectal cancer, and she said it stemmed from a faulty colonoscopy in January 2007.

Just this year, the VA alerted more than 6,400 veterans, nationwide, whose colons were examined between 2003 and 2008, that a malfunctioning valve on an irrigation tube might have delivered toxic backwash.

There are three VA hospitals under a cloud of suspicion Miami, Murfreesboro and Augusta, Georgia.

There are five unverified cases of Hepatitis B, seven cases of Hepatitis C and one case of HIV.

The HPV ‘Jane Doe' claimed to have not been included in the screening. Her attorneys said the risk goes beyond HIV and hepatitis.

"This poor lady has the HPV virus and this is the only source that it could have come from, so at a very minimum the veteran's administration needs to widen their test," said Nashville attorney John Peeler.

The VA is waiting for scientific data, proof the cases did originate from the hospital's error.

"For many of these folks it's quite frankly a disgusting thing to have to even contemplate," said Nashville attorney Joe Calandriello. 

Attorneys Calandriello and Peeler represent five local clients claiming to be infected by the Murfreesboro site.

The clients first have to file a Claim 95, an official notice for a hospital that typically would be immune from litigation.

The Veterans' Administration in Washington insists these patients, who claim they were infected by the hospitals, are so far unconfirmed cases.

The VA officials said the health and safety of its patients is most important.