Whistleblowers !VA Center Michael E. DeBakey Hospital Center water contamination

Whistleblowers is presented in coordination with Marcel Reid and the Whistleblowers Summit in Washington DC

Our Guest: Tarref Simon

Formerly employed boiler technician with the Veterans’ Administration from 7-16-12 to 12-31-13 at the Michael E. DeBakey Hospital Center in Houston Texas. Shunned on his job for reporting the dangerous contamination of th ewater supply to the facility, Tarref finally left his job.  The intimidation and harassment didn't stop there.

The hospital used industrial boilers to make steam for hospital operations—including cleaning water and sterilizing bedding and miscellaneous items. Frequently, the plumbing that was necessary to operate the boilers lacked the necessary water pressure to function properly, When malfunctions occurred the nurse stations would make repair/maintenance work orders--because they had no water to care for patients or for medical staff to conduct their work.

The ice machines for the operating rooms had no filters. Medical staff used this ice made from unfiltered water to pack human organs—means the ice was made from dirty water. I know that ice machines that had filters required changing because they filled up with dirt and sediment rapidly.

When the plumbing malfunctioned it compromised the safety, sanitation, and operation of the Hospital, because it prevented the bathrooms, fountains, utility sinks, washing machines, ice machines, etc. from working properly, hygienically, and so forth. Our water pressure problems resulted from the chronic problem of undertreated or untreated water of Houston’s Drinking Water Operation authority was full of mud that clogged valves that separated the Veterans’ Administration water line from the city’s water line.

And this was only the tip of the iceberg at this facility.