Government concedes negligence in Legionnaires’ lawsuit

By Adam Smeltz and Brian Bowling: The Pittsburgh Tribune-Review Published: February 4, 2014 House legislation that would make it illegal for veterans hospitals nationwide to conceal disease outbreaks won passage on Monday evening with bipartisan approval. Supporters argued a fatal outbreak of Legionnaires’ disease in the VA Pittsburgh Healthcare System shows a need for the transparency rules, which would require VA hospitals to report promptly cases of infectious disease to state and local health departments. Separately, the federal government agreed Monday that a World War II veteran contracted Legionnaires because of government negligence at the VA’s University Drive hospital in Oakland. Lawmakers from across Western Pennsylvania said veterans deserve better. “We owe it to them and their families to make sure that at least some good comes from this tragic incident,” said Rep. Mike Doyle, D-Forest Hills. Read Article Here