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SATEL AND BUYER "TAG TEAM" PTSD VETS IN HOUSE

HEARING -- Dr. Sally Satel and Rep. Steve Buyer minimize

and marginalize veterans with PTSD. Speak of PTSD as

a "catch-all" and a "time-limited" affliction.

 

Dr. Sally Satel                  Rep. Steve Buyer

 

Story below:

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The House Committee on Veterans' Affairs held a roundtable discussion on PTSD on Wednesday, May16, 2007.

The full witness list is here... http://veterans.house.gov/
hearings/schedule110/may07/05-16-07/witness.shtml

Rep. Steve Buyer (R-IN), Ranking Minority Member, invited Dr. Sally Satel to testify.  Satel is the paid mouthpiece of the American Enterprise Institute, a conservative think tank.  Satel's disrespect for veterans with PTSD is a matter of legend.  Buyer's "suck it up soldier" attitude is also well-known.

Satel's "blame the veteran" approach is not well-received in the medical community.  Quote:  "Blaming the veteran for psychological reactions to war fosters stigma, a major reason why veterans do not seek mental health assistance." John A. Fairbank, Ph.D.

For more an Satel, use the VA Watchdog search engine.  You'll be amazed at some of the things she has said.  Search engine here... http://www.yourvabenefits.org/

What we heard from Satel and Buyer was the "M&M" agenda...minimize and marginalize...that is, minimize the disorder and that marginalizes the veteran.  It's a tired old tactic.

Here are Rep. Buyer's opening remarks where he says that PTSD is often used as an "umbrella" and a "catch-all" for any mental disorder...click here to listen or download MP3, 3:36 in length.

Satel's remarks were equally repugnant.  She talked about "recovery" and confusing PTSD with other disorders such as phobias, depression and anxiety.  She says the VA should be careful of granting 100% benefits for PTSD.  Satel added that there must be a "high threshold" for granting PTSD benefits, work is the best therapy and PTSD is a "time-limited" affliction.  Here are Satel's opening remarks...click here to listen or download MP3, 9:01 in length.

Later in the hearing there was discussion of "return to work" programs for veterans with PTSD who receive unemployability benefits.

The hearing lasted over 2 hours and 40 minutes.  Complete audio is here... http://veterans.house.gov/
hearings/schedule110/may07/05-16-07/05-16-07.wma

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Larry Scott  --