South Dakota
Attorney General Marty Jackley (R) said he's uncovered no wrongdoing in the case of a blind Lakota man whose surgical scars resemble the letters "KKK."
Jackley looked into the treatment of
Vern Traversie,
a blind member of the
Cheyenne River
Sioux Tribe, at the Rapid City Regional Hospital.
He claims the scars resulted from a reaction to medical grade tape, according to a
press release.
Traversie, 69, underwent emergency surgery at the hospital last August.
He has filed a lawsuit in federal court against the facility.
“I’m not surprised that the State of South Dakota is seeking to preempt justice,” Traversie, 69, said in a press release yesterday.
The
FBI and the
Department of Health and Human Services are also looking into the incident, Traversie's media team said in the press release.
Get the Story:
No support for 'KKK' carving claims, state concludes
(The Sioux Falls Argus Leader 8/7)
Investigation finds no evidence of mistreatment of Lakota man
(KSFY-TV 8/6)
AG: Scars From Reaction To Medical Tape
(KELO-TV 8/6)
Related Stories:
Cheyenne River Sioux man sues hospital for scars from surgery
(7/17)
Joe Valandra: Racist
treatment of Indians persists in Rapid City (06/11)
Blog: State takes a look at alleged branding of
blind Lakota man (6/7)
Lise Balk King:
Rapid City -- one of the worst places to be Indian (5/31)
Native Sun News: Rapid City hospital put in
unhealthy spotlight (5/23)
Hundreds
march in support of blind Cheyenne River Sioux man (05/22)
Evelyn Red Lodge: Lakota man accuses hospital of
mutilation (04/26)
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