Dereliction of duties at VA facility must not reoccur, Womack says

U.S. Rep. Steve Womack (R-AR) on Sept. 10 requested an investigation into how the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) is addressing the misconduct of a former VA pathologist working in his home state who has been linked to the deaths of several U.S. military veterans.

“We need clear information on the VA’s decision-making throughout this shameful situation and insight into the lack of safeguards,” Rep. Womack testified before members of the U.S. House Veterans’ Affairs Committee. “Our veterans deserve the highest standard of care, and proper oversight is necessary to ensuring that this conduct is never repeated.”

Robert Morris Levy, 53, who previously worked at the Veterans Health Care System of the Ozarks in Fayetteville, Ark., was indicted in August by federal prosecutors on three counts of involuntary manslaughter, and 28 counts of mail fraud, wire fraud and false statements to law enforcement officials, according to the U.S. Attorney’s Office in the Western District of Arkansas, which is pursuing the criminal charges.

Due to Levy’s on-the-job abuse of alcohol and drugs, he misdiagnosed a total of more than 3,000 cases, subsequently causing at least 15 deaths, according to the indictment.

“Specifically, I find it appalling that a doctor who was caught intoxicated on duty was allowed to resume caring for our veterans and returned to his supervisory position” as chief of pathology at the VA Medical Center located in his district, Rep. Womack said during the hearing.

“Let me reiterate: he was returned to duty. A doctor who had showed up to work while intoxicated was returned to duty to care for our veterans. This is unacceptable,” Rep. Womack said, calling for increased accountability and transparency at VA Medical Centers.

Following Rep. Womack’s speech, committee members agreed to pursue an inquiry into the situation.