VA had hospital warning.(Main)

Byline: BRENDAN LYONS Staff Writer

ALBANY - Top officials at Stratton Veterans Affairs Medical Center Hospital were warned of poor patient care and conflicting data in their cancer program several years before a corrupt researcher began forging the backgrounds of veterans to enroll them in drug studies.

Hospital records recently obtained by the Times Union show that VA cancer experts told Stratton officials their cancer program was in disarray, morale was low, there was widespread infighting among staffers and doctors were spending more time on research than with patients.

Years later, the cancer program became the subject of a federal grand jury investigation that has led, so far, to one criminal conviction - for negligent homicide and fraud. Records of dozens of veterans were forged to qualify them for studies of new cancer drugs.

An attorney representing widows of veterans who died or suffered as a result of the fraud said documents obtained by the newspaper support their assertion that the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs bears much responsibility for what occurred.

"If true, it would clearly establish that the VA was responsible," said Donald T. Kinsella, an attorney for relatives and widows of several deceased cancer patients. "It shows how criminality was allowed to occur."

Many …