Five veteran deaths are at the center of a potential VA cover-up in Marion, Illinois.
Two weeks ago, the VA Office of Inspector General released a report of their investigation into the deaths of five veterans. These veteran deaths were linked to care provided by a doctor who had not practice medicine for “a number of years.”
Senator Richard Durbin initiated the investigation after reports of veteran mistreatment from Illinois veterans. According to complaints, the veteran deaths occurred from October 2011 to March 2012. Veterans seen in the Marion VA Medical Center’s ICU were at risk during this time.
The VA OIG report describes a work environment at the hospital like the TV show Scrubs as opposed to a functional hospital. The report discloses that ICU medical professionals at the facility thought Physician A was in charge when, according to management, he was not.
This sounds ridiculous since the doctor had not practiced medicine for many years, but the OIG report concludes the fact.
DisabledVeterans.org Investigation into Veteran Deaths
We are investigating the issue to prevent further veteran deaths. Here is what we know thus far.
The report states:
“A physician who had not been in clinical practice for many years was hired by the facility. His clinical privileges were granted with the understanding that his competence would be confirmed by direct observation. However, competence was never documented for invasive procedures that he subsequently performed.”
The VA OIG report does not state the name of the doctor, but instead refers to the person as “Physician A.” In the report, “Physician A” is the doctor linked to the five deaths. We have a request in with VA OIG to release further information, including the physician’s identity.
Should the VA OIG refuse, we have begun an outside investigation. As of today, we learned the identity of one of the doctors on staff who does fit the description of Physician A.
This doctor in question did retire in 2003. Later, in 2011, this same doctor came out of retirement to work at the Marion VA Medical Center. It is possible that this is the doctor referred to in the report as “Physician A.” However, at this point in time, our hypothesis on “Physician A’s” identity is purely speculation.
As to the question, is there a VA cover-up of the veteran deaths, we do not yet know. It does look suspicious, especially since the doctor in question is unnamed and did not practice medicine for a number of years. This is amplified by the VA Medical Center’s failure to supervise this same doctor, despite an arrangement to do so.
Further information will be released as sources are verified.
As to this issue, we would like to ask for your help. Anyone with information about the veteran deaths should contact us by email immediately. Thank you.
http://www.va.gov/oig/pubs/VAOIG-12-00496-191.pdf
