Families, attorneys present Inspector General findings on Fayetteville VA pathologist and urge stronger oversight

Attorneys representing families of veterans described a string of alleged medical errors and oversight failures at the Fayetteville VA in testimony to the committee.

An Odom Law Firm video reviewed Office of Inspector General findings and media reporting about pathologist Dr. Robert Levy, who prosecutors say signed false performance reviews, misdiagnosed patients and worked while impaired. The video and family testimony tied several veteran deaths to diagnostic errors; attorneys said at least eight families are pursuing Federal Tort Claims Act claims and that Dr. Levy has pleaded guilty to criminal charges in federal court.

Judy Veloski, whose father died after an alleged misdiagnosis, described the lasting emotional toll on her family. Attorneys and witnesses said the Office of Inspector General's 100-page report documented systemic weaknesses in pathology oversight at the Fayetteville VA, including inadequate peer review, inconsistent monitoring and failures to follow up on red flags. Committee members asked what the state could do to strengthen oversight of federal facilities and credited the work of Rep. Steve Womack and the OIG in pursuing answers.

Representatives of the legal team said some families' claims remain pending in the Federal Tort Claims Act process and expressed concern that internal VA accountability steps had been insufficient.

The committee did not take formal action but agreed to consider ways state agencies and the committee might coordinate to reduce the potential for similar lapses in state-run facilities.