Dr. David Houlihan Appeals Termination From Candy Land

Dr. David Houlihan

Benjamin KrauseInsider reports across Candy Land (ie Tomah VAMC in Wisconsin) indicate former Tomah chief of staff Dr. David Houlihan has appealed his termination following confirmed allegations of his involvement in the death of at least one veteran.

Sources within the VISN 12 element in Wisconsin confirmed yesterday that Dr. Houlihan has in fact appealed his termination. The appeal hearing is supposedly set for January 25, 2016. If true, the hearing is likely to be held in Tomah, Wisconsin, but who really knows about such things until after they happen. To this point, the mainstream press has been totally silent about the appeal meaning VA is likely keeping it under wraps to the outside world.

Should we all go?

RELATED: Dr. Houlihan Fired After Lengthy Investigation

Dr. Houlihan is obviously not the first VA leader to appeal an adverse determination in recent months. Obviously, the world is familiar with the infamous demotion and appeal of Diana Rubens and Kimberly Graves. Before them, Pheonix VA head Sharon Helman also attempted to win her job back.

VIDEO: Tomah VA Staff Playing Human Hungry Hippos

DR. DAVID HOULIHAN BACKGROUND

Last winter, reports surfaced that Dr. David Houlihan was possibly engaged in an unethical and unlawful prescription scheme involving prescription of opioids that put at least one veteran’s life at risk. That veteran, Jason Simcakoski, eventually died as a result of reckless management of his mental health care at Tomah VA. Dr. Houlihan was ultimately linked to Simcakowski’s death and terminated following a string of other investigations from VA OIG, Wisconsin and the DEA.

Now, America gets to watch and wait to see how Dr. Houlihan’s appeal will be resolved. Again, do you think we should go watch the show?

 

 

Similar Posts

25 Comments

  1. 01/14/2016

    Dear Benjamin Krause,

    Why Not?

    Everyone else is getting their jobs back and the FBI Director just terminated all investigations—–What problem?

    Looks good to me!

    Bob must be doing a great job—-can’t wait to shake his hand!

    It will feel like Shook’s in Torrance, California after I spoke to the Southbay Bar Association 1992 Congressional Forum—Six years before the 1998 Cox Report [900 pages of Treason].

    Sincerely,

    Don Karg

  2. He’ll get his job back, he’ll be apologizedone to , he’ll get a promotion because he didn’t rat on the rest of the system. He’ll got a bonus that he’ll us to the Cayman Islands.

    What layer of VA he’ll get placed into .

    There is just no telling what he’ll gets. It’s very daunting a real inferno.

    1. If your justification to ignore truth is to bitch about grammar,,,then u don’t care about our veterens being forced to endure physical pain.People like u,who think they have the right to decide who suffers in physical pain and who does not,,are causing soo much undue suffering to all people who’s only crime according to u people is they have a physically painful medical condition.I am a chronic physical pain humanbeing,,Tomah,,,is 1 hour from me,,,all 3 of my brothers served,,Ft.Cambell Ky,,Quanitco Va,,and when it was open Glenview Naval,IL.,,but thats not my point,,its yours,,,Enlighten me,,all u who believe you have the right to decide who suffers in physical pain and who does not,,,,why do u think u have that right to decide who suffer in physical pain,,and who does not???Also if u can answer, At what point to we stop blaming the gun,,and start blaming thee Adult behind the gun,,To make this ,”clearer” at what point do we ask the people who choose to abuse,to lie to their doctors so they can continue to abuse our medicines,,,when do we actually ask them to take responsibility for their own behaviors,,when do we hold them accountable for their choice to abuse our medicines,,ie,,perfect analogy,,when do we start blaming the people behind the gun,,not the gun itself??paita

      1. I think the post above was aimed at me, not Darrell Austin.

        paita, your comments make little sense. I don’t have a clue what point you are trying to make. Are you a Vet? Are you being treated by the VA? Most of us who post here are veterans, as am I. Most of us are very aware of pain and pain meds. What we don’t understand is your comments. I did not fully read your posts until today. I usually don’t fully read comments where letters are used instead of words, many words are misspelled, nonsensical wording, run on sentences, abysmal punctuation and the most egregious is your shouting at the top of your lungs (using all caps).

        I might read your reply, please limit it to the subject matter and resist the temptation to write another diatribe.

  3. If things go in court like I see here.it would not do any good.first hearing lawyers will talk to each other and make a deal and no one would know what was said and or they will ask for another hearing date.

    There is no one to go to bat against him getting his job back is there.

    Government employees have rights.where the veterans (citizens) have no voice or choice.

    Veterans can be accused of disruptive behavior and threatened with arrest.federal charges and banishment and VA employees don’t have to prove their allegations. Just say it is so and therefore it is.

    Even when there is evidence about wrongdoings concerning VA employees, they are offered ways to defend themselves.

    The VA has used their disruptive committee to frame veterans of wrongdoings and those veterans do not have the same rights as VA employees to defend themselves.

    Something is very wrong with that kind of justice.

    VA needs to get out of the justice business.they are not trained in judiciary matters and should stop using this system as it infringes on veterans civil and constitutional rights.

    Where’s are the veterans rights.

    Disband the disruptive committee now.

  4. It would be nice if someone on the veterans side were able to go watch Ben, but would they allow it given its a personnel issue?
    I would like to see what he claims are grounds for appeal, and I would like to see if the VA continues their stellar record of screwing up every firing they lamely attempt.
    This hack should be nowhere near veterans seeking health care ever again.

    1. @91veteran

      I am going to go out on a limb and guess that ‘The Candyman’ will try to simply use the “the veteran should have known better” lame assed excuse. In any case, am thinking strongly that Veterans will be vilified to protect his ass…and just WHO would want to be the first to be his patient again?
      The VA would have to promote his sorry ass and in the way only the VA could do, they would promote him to be in charge of ALL VA Pharmacies.

      Good point about the VA’s latest track record in actually firing anyone with teeth.

      1. They can try blame the veteran, but would look stupid doing so since the veteran does not have the medical training. Blaming the veteran is like blaming your car not running right after taking it to your barber for service.

        Would the VA try blaming the veteran anyway? Absolutely! These are the nitwits after all that believe bad behavior is resolved by redefining accountability.

        It’s like the VA doctors saying to a vet, “well, you don’t look disabled”. Well, what does cancer look l like? Internal injuries? TBI? Do they have a “look”?

  5. oh boy will I comment,,,,u know,,u never report on all the HUMANBEINGS,, That HAVE BEEN FORCED TO ENDURE THEIR PHYSICAL PAIN now because of this misplace angry,,,this destructive ,”group think” this has all created…Don’t believe it,,,,now I mention this petition not only for the formal complaint,but for thee comments,in ”petition2congres,donoharm,dea,”…people are writing their last ,”wills,”,,,people are chooseing death to stop their physical,,, pain because their meds have been taken from them,,80 years with arthritis ,and other medical conditions are calling for ,”god to take them,”because of the forced endurement of their physical pain because of this Hitler type group think,and I say Hitler because his ,”group think” convince millions to allow the suffering,the torture and death of 1000’s of innocent med /women and children,,just like this ,”group think is doing,,,like the salem witch trials,,,forcing pain,physical pain onto innocent women ,,,This is exactly what all u r doing who think u have the right to tell any humanbeing how much physical pain to suffer..IT IS A FACT,A GOD GIVEN FACT,,NO-ONE CAN PHYSICAL FEEL THE PHYSICAL PAIN OF ANOTHER,THATS A FACT,NOT HEAR SAY,,A FACT,THUS AS A CIVILIZED HUMANE SOCIETY WE ARE SUPPOSE TO BE COMPASSIONATE,AND LESSEN THAT PHYSICAL PAIN,EMPHATHY,,,NOT FORCED THEM TO ENDURE IT!!!U LOOK UP THE 2 WORDS HUMAN SIFFERING ON THE WEB,,U KNOW WHAT COMES UP,,A GOD,ANY GOD,,,IT MEANS NO 1 MAN,NO 1 GROUP HAS THE RIGHT TO FORCED PHYSICAL PAIN,TORTURE,ONTO ANY HUMANBEING,ITS NOT WITH-IN OUR RIGHT AS HUMANBEINGs TO FORCED PHYSICAL PAIN ONTO ANY HUMANBEING,WE DON’T HAVE THAT RIGHT,ITS NOT WITH OUR REALM OF RIGHTS AS HUMANS,,,THERE ARE THINGS IN THIS WORLD HUMANBEINGS HAVE NO RIGHT TO DECIDE AND IF U THINK U HAVE THT RGHT,YOUR THINKING IS A ,”HITLER MENTALITY,A SALEM WITCH HUNT MENTALITY,A PSYCHOTC MENTALITY!!,1 MAN an adult, who could of at any ,,any,,,time said 2 simple letters,,,NO,,, I do not want tht medicine,,,NO,, I will not mix alcohols,,or other meds,,,basically ,I will follow my doctors orders,,,and he is as an adult he was responsible for his own body,not his father or his mother,after thee age of 18..We handed this man a gun at 18 years old,and gave him the right to decide who lives or dies in a time of war,yet we some how think he is not responsible for his own body,or to simple say no,,Furthermore,,if his meds were not working,as a responsible pain management person,,u are suppose to turn those meds in,,if they are not working or flush them down the toilet,,,my guess is he did niether,and he hoarded those medicines he claimed did not wortk,,thus,14 different meds in his blood test???He lied to his doctor,,Again he,this Adult patient, was NOT ACTING RESPONSIBLE WITH HIS MEDICINES,,,,
    Let me explain what real Pain management is,,and what it is in wisco!!,First,,u do not even get into pain management w/out a referrel from a m.d.,,I have 5 refererrls,,,,2nd,,,they never just say,,oh here,,take a narcotic,,,they do c.t.’s..m.r.i.’s to back up thee actual injury,,then they usual try something like toradal,,a non-narcotic,,,anotherwards,they try all non narcotics 1st,,,then,,and only then,,do they try a low dose narcotic,,,,,,,Furthermore,,usually,,,many surgeons ,don’t like pain management doctors,,,why,,,because at least 50 % of us chronic physical pain HUMANBEINGS,, are in their because of doctors error,,or screw-up from a batched surgery,,and Pain management doc’s find those mistakes,,Sooo many surgeon type doc’s will discredit pain management doc’s because they find that surgeons,,that doc’s mistake,,,In my case 15 doctors at thee finest heart hospital in Milwaukee missed a tumor in the thoracic and a collapsed left lung,dahh,,for 3 years,,i had already lost 90 pounds,,as my pain management doc said,,he could see every rib,every back bone,and my hips were so pronounced I look like a holocaust surviior,,THATS WHAT HAPPENS TO HUMANBEINGS WHO PHYSICAL PAIN IS UNTREATED,,Because these ,”educated ” cardiologist,thorcics doc’s were claiming because I was a women,my severe chest pain under my left breast was not there.,,Now because this tumor sat their for god knows how long,,before a pain management doctor did a simple chest x-ray,and a mri,,,showing my heart,my lung,my spinal cord was all pushing to the left,,17 cardiac ablation later,chest tubes,major surgery,,the scarring on my heart,my lung,my spinal cord,,I will have chronic physical pain for life,,because 15 educated doctors were WRONG about me..Their ,”group think” literally almost killed me,,My pain management doctor also got punished for finding what 15 doctors missed..He no longer got any surgeries thrown his way,he was blacked balled by the surgeon’s,,,So i know from experience,what great thing pain management and their doctors can do,mine saved my life,literally,,,but as Adults,u need to act like an adult,be responsible for your own body,,and thus your medicines,,.
    More hurt,harm and death to our veterens has happen’d with ,”cruel group think,” to the very men and women who should NEVER EVER BE TORTURE IN PHYSICAL PAIN AGAIN,,,, if they need MEDICINES,,to lessen their physical pain,,by god they should get it!!!Not left to suffer in agonizing physical pain on kitchen floors,or anywhere else,,ever!!But this is the reality of what s happening now,,,since 1 man,,1 group think,,has choosen to think they have the right to decide who suffers physical pain,and who doesn’t,,,,,thats not with in our rights as humanbeing,it barbaric,,R right as humanbeings is to become MORE civilized,more compassionate,more humane,,,and simply ask our veterens,what can we do to lessen your physical pain after u defending our country!!!!!!!!!!!!just like Dr,Houlihan tried to do,,paita
    pss,submission for comments on the cdc,ie,MORE regulation on our medicines are due today please make your physical pain felt,submit your comments fyi.

    1. Absolutely cannot tell if you are defending this “Candyman Dr.” or not defending him?? So many mixed messages in your message, I have no idea where you really stand with this.
      Sounds to me like you are blaming Veterans and giving the Dr. a “free pass” based on your unfortunate situation. Not even a valid analogy.

      Do I smell troll this early in day?

      1. @namnibor
        It seems to me, for some reason “Paita says” is rambling on about how we on here aren’t treating patients, who need pain meds, with the respect they deserve!
        I, as you point out, also can’t tell if “Paita” is condemning the “Candyman” or praising him!?
        In one instance, “Paita” blames him and veterans for abuse of narcotics. Yet, in other instances, “Paita” praises him and others in that medical field!?
        Could it be Paita is “wired” right now? Just a thought, not an accusation. Or, could it be, “Paita” IS a “troll” looking for sympathy for the “Candyman”! Who, by the way, was liked to a marine’s death?
        From Paitas’ rambling, it’s hard to tell.

    2. Paita here,,and no trolling,,nice try,,,and maybe u should go back to school and learn how to read,,,Fact,,U R NOT TREATING OUR VETERENS W/THE RESPECT AND MEDICINES THEY NEED!!!!FACT,,U OR NO-ONE ELSE CAN PHYSICALLY FEEL THE PHYSICAL PAIN OF ANOTHER,THATS A FACT,,,THUS,,NO-ONE,,NO-ONE HAS THE RIGHT TO DECIDE WHO SUFFERS IN PHYSICAL PAIN AND WHO DOES NOT… it really is a simple concept,,but maybe you are tooo high on your 22 hand thoroughbred to understand the basic concept of humanity,compassion,,and u have no right to decide who sudffers and who diesn’t,,,,maybe u just can’t grasp that simple concept of humane,compassionate care.. 1 years ago a nurse friend of mine taken care of a vet,,got a phone call at 6 am,,his pain meds had been yanked,,,he said he was done,,the next thing she heard was a single gun shot,,,can u understand people are choosing death to stop there physical pain???can u understand once 1 hit 18,,u r respomsible for your own body,.,,not some doc or your mommy??Probably not,,,my guess is u do not suffer from physical chronic pain,,thus u still thnk u have a right to tell someone how much physical pain to suffer,,,do u know what the word arrogance means ???Maybe go back to school and learn something ,,,paita

    3. paita, Please learn the English language before commenting… furthermore, comment, we no where to go to get nonsensical drivel. I doubt seriously that you are a Vet.

      1. @JoeWeil, I also believe “paita” is no Vet. That “dribble” speaks for itself. paita definitely needs to learn the English language!

        If “paita” were to understand “WHAT” Dr. Houlihan did to the veterans, (over prescribing opioids in dangerous quantities vs. medical procedures set down by AMA), which in some cases caused death!
        Plus, the death of a Marine which was due to HIS reckless action. paita might understand the “PAIN” of family members. Who will now have to visit their “loved one” at the cemetery.

        I also believe paita needs to learn the “facts” of “WHAT” Dr. Houlihan did, (as well as the English language), before coming on here and trying to denegrate us!
        Not all physicians do as paita claims. I’ve personally witnessed veterans receive LARGE quantities of opioid meds without receiving any xrays, MRI’s or other tests! All a vet had to do was say, “Doc, I’ve got a pain in my lower back!” The physician gives them opioids. Good medicine, huh!?

        There are many examples I could give about VA. If one really wanted to learn about the “corruption, waste, abuse, fraud and other forms of medical malpractice, which is VA! All one has to do is look at all the “BLOGS” Ben has put on this website for years.

        That’s my rant for today.

    4. Where has anyone here demanded your pain meds be taken away? If you have read any comments here for any length of time, quite a number of Veterans have lost their pain meds. If you read comments here, you would find many here want Houlihan held accountable for killing a veteran given his very questionable prescription practices. He was a quack that didn’t give a damn about the harm he was causing veterans.

      1. I love your flights of fantasy Ben. Face it, you won. You just can’t live with your own success.

      2. How do you define success.Ben has won with veterans and dreamers can acomplish many things.dreamers went to the moon etc.

        And it’s not a matter of winning it how you play the game and when the rules are not fair they need to be changed.

        Ben and all veterans want change to live without fear that the very origination untrusted to care for veterans has become hostile and complacent and forgot the mission.

        Ben us winning.but it not over until veterans are truly taken care of and bad employees are fired or placed into jail for gross mismanagement.

  6. Not being able to realize and self-acknowledge when a highly educated professional crosses lines of the law is what “The God Syndrome” is all about.
    Not all M.D.’s achieve this level of self-acknowledged level of asshole.
    Most M.D.’s respect their Hippocratic Oath.
    When and if they reach a certain level of achieved asshole status, they absolutely feel they are above the law because they of course feel they are smarter than the rest of us.
    These are very dangerous individuals. Serial Killers have a very similar self-worth, feeling they are exceptional human examples that the law does not apply.

    Will “Candyman” Dr. Houlihan’s daughter again come on this blog and blindly defend this KILLER?
    What if it was your dad that Houlihan killed through reckless prescribing?

    What business does a Psych. Dr. have prescribing pain medicine in the first place?

    Ethics?

    WHY has the APA not taken his license to practice away in the States he is registered to practice in?

    What part of “YOU KILLED A VETERAN” are you having difficulty comprehending, you genius?? Are you going to continue blaming Veterans for the drugs YOU prescribed?
    Dick!!

  7. How many believe he will get his job back?

    I wonder what the family is thinking about this?

    Remember when the Doc’s wife came on here and defended him a few months ago?
    Remember what she said?
    Basically, he’s such a great guy and cared deeply for the veterans he saw!?

    I wonder if any of our “alleged lawmakers” will intervene in his behalf?

    There’s more to come. I can see it now!

    1. @crazyelf-

      Again, you and I think an awful lot alike. I stand corrected in my post: I said it was his daughter that came on here but apparently it was his wife? In any case, still an asshole…and anyone that defends this overeducated killer!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

      1. @namnibor
        It could have been his daughter. I thought it was his wife. Not sure.
        Anyway one looks at it, a “family member” defended him.
        I remember that douchbag at the Illiana, Illinois VA pain management puke who was arrested back in July 2015. He was extradited back to Indiana for killing (murdering) three people. Over the exact same thing the “Candyman” was doing to veterans. I think they, law enforcement and procecutors, called it “death by narcotic cocktail”. Or something like that.
        That punk in Indiana could, according to law enforcement, have murdered up to 50 people. Remember that one brother?

      2. @crazyelf

        Yes, I do. What I have seen recently is just like the VA does, is the more or less by inference, vilifying vets or anyone that needs to be on any controlled med, to include psych meds. This newer “Dr./Patient Contract” they have at least in private healthcare, where you are required to check all the boxes “as read” and then sign in agreement in order to be prescribed ANY pain med, you are as a patient also more or less absolving them of any liability by doing so. Read it all. It’s there. I am wondering if the VA will already have something cooked-up like this or already do by their own interpretation of “Patient/Dr. Pain Management Contract”?

        I was not outright accusing prior poster AS a ‘troll’, but with the wishy washy, non-coherency at THAT early in morning, it set-off my perhaps overly sensitive ‘troll sense’….still…was a bit like a few paragraphs went for a wild galloping horse riding accident or something, but the in-defense of the “Candyman” was what set-off the higher tier sensor that even had my cat thinking troll was on the menu.:-) So, I apologize to non-trolls.

    2. Gee l would rather die…than my healthcare l have now misdiagnos
      Wrong meds horrible.
      I want very much to see this doctor
      But can’t afford it!!!!

Comments are closed.