The leader of the Lower Brule Sioux Tribe of South Dakota won't be surprised if an investigation of the Indian Health Service turns up wrongdoing.

"Some of this stuff has been going on for years and years and years," Chairman Michael Jandreau. told The Sioux Falls Argus Leader. "Hopefully, if there is some serious criminal behavior, it will get tended to; and if not, it will clear up the perception."

The Senate Indian Affairs Committee launched an investigation into the Aberdeen Area of IHS, which includes South Dakota, North Dakota, Nebraska and Iowa. The probe was brought on by concerns about the Quentin N. Burdick Memorial Hospital on the Turtle Mountain Chippewa Reservation in North Dakota but the entire region will be under scrutiny.

"'The problems there are such that Sen. Dorgan thinks we need to determine whether it is a problem with mismanagement at that facility or whether it is a problem that is rooted even deeper in the Aberdeen region,'' spokesperson Barry Piatt told the Associated Press . ''He will be looking at the whole region

Get the Story:
Indian Health woes draw Senate scrutiny into Aberdeen-based system (The Sioux Falls Argus Leader 7/1)
Panel looking into Indian health facilities (AP 7/1)

Committee Notice:
BUSINESS MEETING on pending committee issues (June 30, 2010)

Related Stories:
Senate Indian Affairs Committee launches investigation of IHS (6/30)
Agenda for Senate Indian Affairs Committee business meeting (6/29)