…is what Secretary Shinseki pledged during his testimony to Congress yesterday when speaking of the action that will take place based in reference to allegations that dozens of veterans died because of inadequate treatment at a Phoenix, Ariz. VA medical facility. Tom Tarantino, the Chief Policy Officer for the IAVA, said ‘Veterans expect action to correct the problems to be “taken in weeks, not months” and urged completely independent investigations of the scheduling and health care claims independent of the VA,’ the Chicago Tribune reported Thursday.
“Responsible and Timely” needs to follow in line with the Mr. Tarantino’s statement; all veterans deserve this. We have put our lives on the line and deserve quality healthcare, free of fraud, waste, and abuse.
Shinseki was given three weeks to have a report on the investigation into these allegations. I think it’s important to note that Secretary Shinseki “resisted calls from a Democratic senator to bring in the Justice Department and FBI for a criminal investigation. Shinseki said he first wanted to see results of the audit and a report on the VA inspector general’s office on its investigation of the Phoenix hospital. ”
It is understandable that he wanted to launch his own audit but find it notable that he denied extra assistance from an unbiased and competent party. Forty veterans may be dead because of the “secret lists” and Congress should be the deciding body for who helps and who does not.
I’m “mad as hell” just as Secretary Shinseki is! He has every right to be. I commend Dr. Sam Foote for coming forward about the two lists at the Phoenix VA, yet I wonder how long he knew it was going on? How deep does this rabbit hole go? In thee weeks we should know more.
Dog Tag Development, Inc. would like to thank the IAVA and POGO for partnering together to create the online Whistleblower Project meant to expose widespread problems plaguing the Veterans Administration health care system, anonymously. Our organization would like to encourage people with knowledge of these malpractices to use the secure, online form to help end these atrocities.
