Legionnaires’ disease lawsuits at VA Pittsburgh hospitals settled

Families of VA Pittsburgh patients who had contracted Legionnaires’ disease are relieved that a settlement has been reached in the lawsuit against the VA Pittsburgh Healthcare System.  They remain frustrated, however, that VA personnel will not be held accountable for the outbreak which included at least 22 illnesses and 6 deaths.

“I’m relieved it’s over, but it’s not nearly what they deserved,” said Debbie Balawejder whose father was 85-year-old Frank “Sonny” Calcagno, who died Nov. 22, 2011 due to Legionnaires’ disease.

“To me, what they did was criminal,” Balawejder continued.  “They’re never going to pay the way they should for what they did.”

U.S. Rep. Keith Rothfus agreed that “these settlements have nothing to do with holding the individuals responsible for [the veterans’] deaths accountable.”

Rep Rothfus also said that there are still “questions that the VA must answer.”

Multiple other members of congress have been involved in this Veterans Affairs situation, including Reps. Tom Murphy and Mike Doyle, and Senators Bob Casey and Pat Toomey.

To read more about this story, please click here.

West Texas VA still addressing Legionella problem in water supply

CBS recently spoke with VA officials to follow-up on the Legionella bacteria situation.

West Texas VA found Legionella in their water system in September 2013 and underwent remediation to disinfect the system.  Subsequent tests over the last few months still showed a presence of the bacteria.  The hospital has since treated the water system by super heating the water and chlorinating four different times.

According to officials at the West Texas VA, the Department of Veterans Affairs requires that hospitals test their water once a year, but that they intend to test more often than the VA requirement.

To read more about treatment the various treatment methods that are available, please visit The Journal of Legionella and the Law.