Congress Hears Testimony in VA Deaths

Congress Hears Testimony in VA Deaths
Knight Ridder | January 30, 2008

Katrina Shank of Murray told a congressional subcommittee Jan. 29 that her husband did not have to die after routine surgery last year at the Veterans Affairs hospital in Marion, Ill.

Shank was in Washington, D.C., and gave a detailed account of her husband Robert's death about 24 hours after gallbladder surgery at the hospital.

"Although my husband did not die during battle for our country, I ultimately believe that through us he is still fighting for the safety of his comrades in arms and the future health care of our American veterans," Shank said according to a copy of her remarks filed with the House Committee on Veterans Affairs' Subcommittee on Oversight and Investigations.

VA officials have pledged reform at the Marion hospital after investigators said 19 deaths there possibly are linked to substandard care. The VA linked several deaths to Dr. Jose Veizaga-Mendez, Robert Shank's surgeon.

Robert Shank, an Air Force veteran, died on Aug. 10, apparently bleeding to death about 24 hours after undergoing gallstone-removal surgery. Veizaga-Mendez resigned three days later.


Rest of article at: http://www.military.com/NewsContent/0,13319,161051,00.html