Posted on 11/20/2013 10:09:07 AM PST by kristinn
Columbia, South Carolina (CNN) -- Military veterans are dying needlessly because of long waits and delayed care at U.S. veterans hospitals, a CNN investigation has found.
What's worse, the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs is aware of the problems and has done almost nothing to effectively prevent veterans dying from delays in care, according to documents obtained by CNN and interviews with numerous experts.
The problem has been especially dire at the Williams Jennings Bryan Dorn Veterans Medical Center in Columbia, South Carolina. There, veterans waiting months for simple gastrointestinal procedures -- such as a colonoscopy or endoscopy -- have been dying because their cancers aren't caught in time.
The VA has confirmed six deaths at Dorn tied to delays...(deaths) at this facility could be more than 20.
SNIP
CNN's repeated requests for interviews with the VA have been denied. Even Congress has had its requests for information ignored, Miller said.
"But unfortunately, if they treat members of Congress ... this way, imagine how they treat the average veteran out there," said Miller. "I can imagine the grief they may be going through."
The VA said in a statement to CNN, "The Department of Veterans Affairs is committed to providing the best quality, safe and effective health care our Veterans have earned and deserve. We take seriously any issue that occurs at one of the more than 1,700 health care facilities across the country. The consult delay at Dorn VAMC has been resolved."
The statement added that cases are now tracked daily, and additional staff members were hired.
But sources at Dorn -- both patients and medical staff -- tell CNN that's just not true. The problems continue, and veterans are still facing delays that could be killing them.
(Excerpt) Read more at cnn.com ...
The top. Go for the one who is the head of this administration. OBAMA. Shinseki would just be collateral damage, and wouldn’t effect the lives of anyone, but OBAMA’s impeachment would.
The Democrats HATE the military, and this is how they repay our warriors for the gift of their lives to us, this Nation.
I think the Va has had problems for a long time.....and just think if they actually enrolled ALL the vets....not just a select few....
This is what “single-payer” looks like.
There are truly some great people working for the VA, but the only people who want government healthcare are those who have never had it.
So much for the efficiency of VA health care often cited by the believers in Big Government’s programs.
Oh! CNN doesn’t give a care about veterans.
What do they expect to happen? Some wonderful entity is going to fix it?
This is government health care.
And the VA will look like the mayo clinic soon, compared with what CNN’s darling obama’s Obamacare
Ugh!!
CNN? Hmmm, that's odd. A random act of journalism?
I hope you are doing well.
5.56mm
I haven’t had to use the VA services since 2002, but at that time the service was great. Appointments, visits, care, etc great. Didn’t have to think about anything but getting there.
I understand since Obama has been the alleged leader of this country the service, etc. at the VA has gone to ‘H’.
I’m lucky. I got what I needed done when our government was in the hands of Americans.
This is probably part of a calculated move to further reduce VA funding and push veterans into obamacare.
It’s far worse than that. It’s to kill them off.
There is no question they are next.
Do drs and hospitals not move unless and untill some insurance go-ahead is given?
Are we short of medical people?
Are we overwhelmed?
What gives ?
I’m a disabled vet but haven’t been to a VA hospital since my physical when I got out. Fortunately I’ve been able to get the care I needed elsewhere.
No plans to ever set foot in one of those places except to maybe visit someone.
Goverment health care!
Something’s screwy. My last VA colonoscopy was outsourced to a local doctor in my hometown.
A preview of DeathCare for all Americans, IMO.
This needs to be highlighted on Fox tonight and on Drudge.
If a republican were in office, we’d make a movie about this called “Article 99”.
I suppose this is a crisis to take the heat off Barry and to try to blame the house and Republicans over funding. Each doctor in the VA has about 1200 patients. It can take a couple months to get an appointment. The treatment is good when you get it.
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.