Ex-Workers: Records Falsified At Minneapolis VA

MINNEAPOLIS (AP) - Two former employees of the Minneapolis VA Medical Center allege they were pressured to falsify patient appointment dates and medical records to hide delays.

The ex-employees say that in some cases, they were told to falsify medical records by writing that patients had declined follow-up treatments when, in reality, they say the veterans had never been contacted.

The former VA workers fear that patients' lives may be at risk because they say some cases involved suspected colon cancer.

The women contend they were fired after trying to alert top VA administrators about the problems, and have filed a complaint.

Minneapolis VA Health Care System director Patrick Kelly says he's not aware of any secret wait lists at the facility, and he does not believe there are any.