Tomah VA director fired amid reports of over-medication practices

TOMAH -- The director of the Tomah VA Medical Center has been fired, becoming the second top official to depart amid reports of over-medication practices.


The La Crosse Tribune reports (http://bit.ly/1NcpODu ) that acting director John Rohrer sent an email to employees Wednesday, September 2nd stating only that Mario Desanctis "is no longer employed" by the VA.

The VA did not immediately say whether say whether Desanctis was fired or quit, but U.S. Rep. Ron Kind's office says he was informed that Desanctis had been "let go."

Desanctis is the second Tomah VA official to depart amid reports of excessive levels of opioid prescriptions there.

Last month, the VA's inspector general said deficiencies in care led to the drug toxicity death last year of Jason Simcakoski. One physician who attended to him was fired.