Delay in cancer screenings caused death of six veterans

VA: 6 Deaths Linked to Delays in Cancer Screens
Associated Press
WASHINGTON September 21, 2013 (AP)
By KEVIN FREKING
September 21, 2013

Six deaths have been linked to delayed screenings for colorectal cancer at the veterans medical center in Columbia, S.C., the Veterans Affairs Department said Friday.

The VA's inspector general said in a recent report that delayed colonoscopies and other screenings were linked to malignancies found in 52 patients. The report did not go into detail about the seriousness of those cases.

VA spokesman Kevin McIver confirmed the six deaths Friday in response to questions from The Associated Press. He said the VA sent disclosure notices to 20 veterans or their families. Under department policies, such notices are required in cases involving serious injury or death. The remaining cases involving malignancies did not meet that threshold.
read more here