It only took over 3,000 misdiagnoses, at least 15 patient deaths, and countless warning signs before the Veterans Administration gave a second look at its chief pathologist, Robert Morris Levy.
In fact, Levy was only fired after he was arrested for driving drunk. He had reportedly gone to work intoxicated many times.
The meddling bureaucracy at the Department of Veterans Affair coupled with non-responsive quality controls took an unimaginable toll on thousands of patients and their families.
The fact that each patient had served our country in uniform adds insult to injury. (Washington Post)
On the Fayetteville campus, rated one of VA’s best, Levy’s supervisors failed to heed early warnings that he was endangering patients and then were slow to act, according to internal VA documents, court filings and interviews with 20 congressional officials, veterans and current and former VA employees.
Federal prosecutors charged Levy, 53, last week with three counts of involuntary manslaughter in the deaths of three veterans. VA officials now acknowledge that he botched diagnoses of at least15 patients who later died and 15 others whose health was seriously harmed.
The number of those affected, however, is much greater, and the full repercussions of Levy’s actions may not be known for years. VA officials say Levy made 3,000 errors or misdiagnoses dating to 2005.
VA officials say they have added oversight of small specialty staffs across the system — as was the case in Fayetteville — to ensure “independent and objective oversight.”
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