|
|
  The Nation's #1 Independent Veterans Web Site Click here to make VA Watchdog dot Org your homepage SENATE COMMITTEE ON VETERANS' AFFAIRS NEWS from Larry Scott at VA Watchdog dot Org -- 05-16-2008 #1 |
|
|
|
The Nation's #1 Independent Veterans Web Site Click here to make VA Watchdog dot Org your homepage SENATE COMMITTEE ON VETERANS' AFFAIRS NEWS from Larry Scott at VA Watchdog dot Org -- 05-16-2008 #1 |
|
|
|
DEMOCRATIC PRESS RELEASE May 16, 2008
AKAKA CALLS VA EMPLOYEE’S SUGGESTION TO MISDIAGNOSE VETERANS DISTURBING AND DISAPPOINTING Calls for Inspector General investigation and renewed guidelines for PTSD
WASHINGTON, D.C. - U.S. Senator
Daniel K. Akaka (D-HI), Chairman of the Veterans' Affairs Committee,
issued the following statement this morning regarding an email sent by a
Department of Veterans Affairs employee suggesting that in order to save
time and resources, VA should avoid diagnosing veterans with
post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD). The email was sent by a mental
health professional at the Temple, Texas Veterans Affairs Medical
Center, and suggested that the facility's mental health staff should
stop diagnosing veterans with PTSD.
"This incident is both disturbing and
disappointing, and provides further evidence that VA's mental health
program requires significant attention," said Akaka. "I have
asked VA's Inspector General to review diagnosis patterns at the facility
involved as well as any
Psychological war wounds are difficult to diagnose and harder still to heal, but they are no less real than any other service-connected injury," added Akaka, who is working with Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid (D-NV) to bring S. 2162, the bipartisan Veterans' Mental Health and Other Care Improvements Act of 2008, to the Senate floor for a vote. "I continue to be concerned that VA's mental health system is unprepared for the rising demands placed on the system by both younger and older veterans. I will keep working to improve standards and funding for veterans' mental health care." -------------------------
Don't forget to read all of today's VA News Flashes (click here) |
|
|
|
