Shank was in Washington, D.C., and gave a detailed account of her husband Robert's death about 24 hours after gallbladder surgery at the hospital.

"Although my husband did not die during battle for our country, I ultimately believe that through us he is still fighting for the safety of his comrades in arms and the future health care of our American veterans," Shank said according to a copy of her remarks filed with the House Committee on Veterans Affairs' Subcommittee on Oversight and Investigations.

VA officials have pledged reform at the Marion hospital after investigators said 19 deaths there possibly are linked to substandard care. The VA linked several deaths to Dr. Jose Veizaga-Mendez, Robert Shank's surgeon.

Robert Shank, an Air Force veteran, died on Aug. 10, apparently bleeding to death about 24 hours after undergoing gallstone-removal surgery. Veizaga-Mendez resigned three days later.

Veizaga-Mendez was under investigation in Massachusetts on allegations of substandard care in 2004 and 2005. He was being investigated for botching seven cases, two of which ended in deaths, before he relocated to Marion in 2006.

"No other veteran's family should have to go through this heartache and pain that mine and Bob's families have to endure," Shank said.

"Why was this allowed to happen, given Dr. Jose Viezaga-Mendez's track record? How did the system fail my husband and several other veterans at the hands of this doctor? How many other veterans are going to have to lose their lives before we, as a country, can offer them more reliable health care?"

U.S. Rep. Jerry Costello, whose Illinois district includes Marion, said he found the faulty leadership at the hospital troubling.

He said the investigation at the hospital must be the first step in re-evaluating and reforming procedures in the VA. Costello co-sponsored the Veteran's Health Care Quality Improvement Act, which would require greater disclosure of a physician's history of malpractice lawsuits and status of being licensed.

"The system has failed these veterans, and their families, who have given a part of their lives to the service of this country," Costello said. "While it is too late to help these veterans, we must make sure that these problems are corrected to restore the integrity of the VA system."

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