VA Nurse Allegedly Participated in Surgery While Drunk

A nurse at a Pennsylvania Veterans Affair hospital allegedly participated in an emergency surgery while drunk, according to a Washington Post report.

Richard Pieri now faces charges a slew of charges including endangering another person and driving under the influence, according to court documents obtained by the Post. He reportedly told investigators that he had forgotten he was on call and had gotten drunk at a local casino. He did not want to call in sick when he received word of an emergency appendectomy, according to the report.

The news comes as the Veterans Affairs Department faces a string of controversies over the service it provides to veterans.

[Washington Post]