The disturbing and ongoing machinations occurring at the Veterans Affairs Department (VA) are reaching critical mass. At a House hearing last month, lawmakers from both parties accused VA officials of allowing veterans to die, due to delayed or withheld medical treatments at VA facilities. Moreover, the VA is stonewalling the follow-up investigation that has been conducted by the Veterans Affairs Committee for more than a year. Back in January, a congressional delegation led by Veterans Affairs Committee Chairman Jeff Miller (R-FL), visited the Dorn Veterans Administration Medical Center in Columbia, SC, and the Charlie Norwood Medical Facility in Augusta, GA. The visit followed a CNN report that at least six deaths had occurred at the two facilities, and as many 20 might eventually be confirmed due to delayed or denied care. Unfortunately, such tragedies are not anomalous. According to an April 2014 fact sheet provided by the VA, cancer screening delays accounted for the deaths of at least 23 patients in VA facilities nationwide, with another 53 patients suffering some other type of harm due to improper care related to gastrointestinal cancer testing or treatment. The VA did not directly admit the deaths were caused by the delays, but noted that “institutional disclosure” requires them to contact “the patient or their representative when the patient has either been harmed, or may have been harmed during their care” by the VA.
Posted on: Wed, 07 May 2014 12:15:32 +0000
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