IHS seeks to dismiss lawsuit over exposure to disease at hospital

Friday, January 28, 2011  

The Indian Health Service is seeking to dismiss a lawsuit filed by the Quechan Nation, whose members may have been exposed to deadly viruses and diseases at the Fort Yuma Hospital in Arizona.

About 44 tribal members were potentially exposed to HIV, hepatitis and other viruses because staff at the IHS failed to clean and sterilize medical equipment. The lawsuit says the agency is violating the Indian Health Care Improvement Act.

Government attorneys say the tribe's concerns should be address by Congress and not by the courts.

Get the Story:
Yuma tribe suing feds over reservation health care (AP 1/28)

Related Stories:
Quechan Nation sues after potential exposure to viruses at IHS (10/26)
Letter: Outrage against poor 'health care' for Native Americans (10/25)
Quechan Nation accuses IHS of violating its trust responsibility (10/08)
Another IHS clinic concerned about exposure to deadly viruses (10/7)
IHS patients in Arizona potentially exposed to deadly viruses (10/5)