Veterans Affairs Doctor Fired For Sexually Molesting Veterans
A doctor employed by the Department of Veterans Affairs is facing charges for allegedly molesting veterans who were enrolled for healthcare in the Syracuse VA Medical Center system at the Watertown branch of the system.
Dr. Jerome Cuyler, 74, was arrested by state police for charges related to sexual assault. He was charged with six counts of forcible touching, five counts of third-degree sexual abuse and one count of fourth-degree aggravated sexual abuse. The allegations spanned multiple incidents that occurred in 2016.
The charges were made in connection with the agency Office of Inspector General Criminal Investigations Division. The sex abuse scandal has now been referred to a grand jury.
Syracuse VA Medical Center Termination
Syracuse VA Medical Center leadership placed Dr. Cuyler on suspension after learning of the allegations. Following an agency investigation, the doctor was fired from the clinic.
“The VA leadership has made it clear that VA will hold employees accountable when the facts demonstrate that they have failed to live up to the high standards veterans and taxpayers expect. That is exactly what we did in this case,” the Syracuse center said in a statement. “All further questions regarding this matter should be directed to the Jefferson County District Attorney’s Office.”
Criminal Sodomy Eisenhower VA
The case of Dr. Cuyler is not the only example of VA clinicians sexually molesting or raping veterans under their care.
RELATED: VA Clinician Sodomized, Molested Veteran Patients
Last August, a Kansas jury convicted sex abuser Mark Wisner of five sex-related charges including criminal sodomy for acts he committed as a physician assistant at Eisenhower VA Medical Center.
When questioned by the IG, Wisner confessed, “I don’t have any business in medicine.” There are now dozens of lawsuits against Wisner in District Court for his various acts.
The allegations against Dr. Cuyler appear similar in nature.
Veterans are not the only victims of sexual assault at VA’s nationwide.
Nurse Assault Cleveland VA
Nurse Annette Katz suffered unrelenting sexual harassment and assault while working at Cleveland VA Medical Center. Her supervision failed to keep her safe while being victimized for four years. VA settled her case for$161,500.
The perpetrator was ultimately convicted of numerous misdemeanors and fired.
Seymore I am not sure if you are Veteran or you got a General Discharge from the Military remember I am a Marine always be a Marine .
@Concerned Veteran Arnold Cabral – – – Not sure what point you are trying to make. The class of discharge (other than Dishonorable) has no relevance to whether Seymore is a veteran or not. Whether he has an Honorable, or a General Discharge – – – He would still be a veteran.
Arnold, what were the years that you served in the Marine Corps? What was you MOS?
One of the prerequisites for being a vso representative, you have to look like ya haven’t shit for a couple of weeks, have a puff a weed and go take yourself a healthy shit, probably feel a lot better too.
You know, it just don’t surprise me that this dr. worked for va in a mental health ward/substance abuse clinic, an area where some of the most despicable va actions take place, like the Lebanon vamc, a place that literally sucks. The nepotism, the nepotistic inbreeding, if they didn’t screw veterans, the drs. and staff their would all be inbreeds.
UN-reported by the VA what is looking like a possible nationwide breach of VA benefits information with Veterans Disability payments being rerouted to some oneelses accounts*****
_____
Veterans notified of potential VA eBenefits breach
The issue has to do with the VA’s eBenefits where some of the veterans’ information has reportedly been compromised.
Author: Kenneth Amaro
First Coast News
Published: 6:34 PM EDT April 6, 2018
Updated: 7:42 PM EDT April 6, 2018
“JACKSONVILLE, Fla. — Leslie Eglinger, 68, is a Navy veteran, who helps other veterans navigate U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs. Now, he finds himself in the maze of the system.
“I’m trying to find out when the money will be put back in my account,” he said. “I think it is a breach, nationwide.”
The issue has to do with the VA’s eBenefits where some of the veterans’ information has reportedly been compromised.
In January, Eglinger notified the VA Benefits office that his wife of 38 years passed away and to have her name removed from his benefits. But he said he did it by mail.
“I knew at the end of March I would see a reduction in my benefits for that,” he said.
Then on March 22, two months later, Eglinger said he received a troubling call from the VA.
“They called me and said, ‘I see you did this, did you put a change in for your deposit?’ he said. “I said no!”
His monthly check of $3,000 was apparently redirected to another account. Then, he discovered that he may not be the only veteran affected.
On Your Side received a copy of a notice that was sent to veterans about a possible eBenefits security breach. It warned veterans to confirm their deposit information.
One veteran even mentioned in the notice that his VA check was deposited somewhere in San Diego.
“Unfortunately it has happened,” said Andy Marshall.
Marshall is Adjutant Department of Florida Disabled American Veterans and the National 3rd Junior Vice Commander. It was Marshall who issued the notice to all veterans.
Eglinger once again reached out for the status of his benefits, by phone and in the presence of On Your Side.
“You show in there the phone conversation I had with your fraud department from March 22 correct,” he told the service agent.
He wanted to know when it will be resolved, and when will he be able to get his check.
Eglinger was told he has to wait until the investigation into is benefits is completed.
“I’ve been told to wait four to six weeks,” he said.
We reached out to the VAB office in St. Petersburg and was told due to privacy restrictions, they cannot discuss the specifics of Mr. Eglinger’s case without his written consent.”
“The VAB also provided this fact sheet on the issue:
Q: What processes are currently in place to prevent fraud or theft of VA benefits?
A: Veterans are the targets of many of the same types of fraud as the rest of society, including mail, telephone and online fraud. VA takes fraud allegations and the security of Veterans’ information seriously. When a fraud case is reported or suspected, VA investigates the incident and determines what actions are needed to protect the Veterans’ benefits, report those responsible for the alleged fraud and make the Veteran whole quickly.
A specialized VBA Incident Team has been created at the Salt Lake Regional Office as a quick reaction force. They have been established to complete all potential payment related fraud incidents (to include eBenefits) for VBA nationwide. The Incident Team’s actions include research, reissuance of payments, and final contact with the Veteran. In addition, VA has previously blocked known fraudulent accounts, implemented new fraud alert protocols for VA Regional Offices and National Call Centers, and added a Fraud Prevention Contractor to assist in identifying fraudulent activities and patterns before they occurs.”
Full Report is at: “https://www.firstcoastnews.com/article/money/veterans-notified-of-potential-va-ebenefits-breach/77-536033985”
@Seymore Klearly – – – The word is getting around for sure! Just returned from a bank run, and specifically asked the clerk to verify my meager disability payment had in fact been posted to my account, which she did. When she asked why, I told her about the data breach – – – and she stated that I was the second veteran today to wonder about that.
I posted the article on facebook, and will be sharing it to the military community on Google+ later this evening.
Thanks for the Heads Up!
A News Report in the Watertown Daily Times points out some very disturbing facts in how this was handled by Shulkin’s VA management system at the VA.
___________
The timeline:
1.) First allegation of inappropriate contact was filed on May 24, 2016. An investigation was launched by Syracuse VA Medical Center leadership then and Dr. Cuyler was relieved of “all clinical responsibilities.”
2.) But he was not barred from the facility and the VA’s Office of Inspector General was not notified until a second complaint was filed on June 14. An investigation was launched by Syracuse VA Medical Center leadership then and Dr. Cuyler was relieved of “all clinical responsibilities.”
3.) According to the Congressional Notification, Dr. Cuyler was not reported to the New York State Licensing Board “in connection with this matter,” and that “the VA Office of Inspector General and the U.S. Attorney’s Office asked the Syracuse VA Medical Center to stand down with respect to initiating the process to report the physician to the New York State Licensing Board.” Currently the Doctor is still licensed to practice in the state of New York. NPI show that he is still accepting Medicaid for the treatment of patients.
4.) Dr. Cuyler was fired July 6, 2016.
5.) Jefferson County District Attorney Kristyna S. Mills said state police and her office became involved in the case just a few months ago, after VA investigators determined it was not under their jurisdiction. She didn’t know why it took that long to hand over the case to the district attorney’s office. “Obviously, it’s a criminal case,” Mrs. Mills said, declining to provide more details, citing they are evidentiary.
Essentially under Shulkin this case has been covered up for nearly 2 years.
_________________
Aggravating Factors:
Dr. Cuyler was employed by the VA at the CANI Building in Watertown which housed VA drug treatment program. The Watertown VA Community Based Outpatient Clinic – CANI Building offered:
Intensive Outpatient (IOP)
Intensive Outpatient programs are for those who want or need a very structured treatment program but who also wish to live at home and continue with certain responsibilities (such as work or school). Intensive Outpatient Services is ideal for those suffering more serious mental health concerns, it offers more contact and treatment time.
Outpatient (OP)
Outpatient programs are for those seeking mental rehab or drug rehab, but who also stay at home every night. The main difference between outpatient treatment (OP) and intensive outpatient treatment (IOP) lies in the number of hours the patient spends at the facility. Most of the time an outpatient program is designed for someone who has completed an inpatient stay and is looking to continue their growth in recovery. Outpatient is not meant to be the starting point, it is commonly referred to as aftercare.
___________
Given the drug treatment specialty at the VA clinic in the CANI building and the fact that it is listed in the Directory of Veterans Resources for the New York State Courts and the Veterans Treatment court in Watertown. It is clear that the patients are required by law to take what ever medication they are being prescribed at the facility or risk incarceration.
Forced Medication!
Just like the Marine veteran who died from a toxic mix of more than a dozen drugs at a U.S. Veterans Affairs facility in Tomah, Wisconsin after being sentenced to probation with the stipulation that the take all medications prescribed at the VA.
Also, like the Victims of Leavenworth VA physician’s assistant Mark Wisner. Where he admits he over medicated Veterans just so he could get his jollies. Where now nearly One Hundred of his Victims have filed suit against the VA with more lawsuits expected to follow.
_____________
Sources:
Directory of Veterans Resources for New York State Courts
At: “https://www.nysba.org/VetsResources/”
Gillibrand demands details from VA surrounding accused Watertown doctor
By MIRANDA MATERAZZO
Watertown Daily News
PUBLISHED: FRIDAY, APRIL 6, 2018
At: “https://www.watertowndailytimes.com/news03/gillibrand-demands-details-from-va-surrounding-accused-watertown-doctor-20180406”
Additional Source for above comment:
Rehab dot com – Watertown VA Community Based Outpatient Clinic – CANI Building
At: “https://www.rehab.com/watertown-va-community-based-outpatient-clinic-cani-building/7016465-r”
One Question Ben, given this case was covered up for nearly two years and most likely would not have come to light had it not been for actions recently taken to oust Shulkin. Would the cover up by the VA Office of Inspector General, the U.S. Attorney’s Office and the Syracuse VA Medical Center be obstruction of justice on the part of those organizations or would the obstruction of justice be considered by Shulkin for his improper leadership of the Department of Veterans Affairs?
Which also brings to mind how a U.S. Attorney has declined to prosecute this total piece of Shit.
What kind of punk Attorney General is Jeff Sessions?
Repeatedly failing to prosecute clear violations of federal laws when it come to VA employees.
Jeff Sessions Department of Justice is not only failing to protect Veterans but actively covering up for a VA Employee who is forcibly Molesting Veterans while they are drugged.
How fucking sick is that?
Quietly covering up his firing long enough to browbeat any victims into accepting some bullshit settlement would not surprise me.
As for prosecution, I don’t know which US Attorneys district would have jurisdiction…the southern district of NY or some other district.
If the southern district, where most wild-eyed corrupt hacks like Loretta Lynch have spent time, they were likely too busy helping Anthony Weiner cover up his sex crimes and classified emails on Humas laptop from Hillary to be bothered with some veteran being sexually assaulted.
As I understand it, the southern district was going to completely ignore the laptop, but the NYPD who had a copy of the emails threatened to release them.
Very interesting to see the VA claim they did not have jurisdiction.
I wonder if they delayed any reporting until a thorough investigation was complete. Not an investigation to determine what their employee did, but an investigation to see if they could cover up any possible blowback on other employees.
SEE! SEE! We FIRE these people when facts show they are bad, so SHUT UP! And if you have any questions, don’t ask!
Except, they don’t fire people when the facts show they are bad if there is any way possible to cover it up, and even if it can’t be covered up, we will still let them work or at most, make them retire.
No need to polish a fires.
The VA only fires people when they are forced to.
No need to polish a fires?
I clearly typed turd. I guess certain words are autocowrecks.
Virtual turds in virtual paper bag on fire on virtual porches…
I feel a song coming on…Might go to the tune of ‘Sittin’ On A Dock…”
Test turd. Test turd. Testing…
The Auto Correct has been acting very strange on this site lately. Since the adware started recording all of our comments.
And the beat goes on……………
I’m surprised he wasn’t allowed to “retire out” of any investigation…
Snap, Crackle, Pop..Pop
Mind Over Matter (Johnny Winter, John Dawson Winter III
To who it may concern who is Lifetime Member of the DAV i am go the Website call Veterans Helping Veterans once in a while from a Concerned Veteran express your belief like you do on here don’t be Chicken Shit.
Which one Arnold? There are many called that and I have found none so far with a forum. Plenty of claims, wants for donations or out of, or in, select areas that would be useless for people like me. No forums found.
T you have to used your name find to Veterans Helping Veterans or Friend me on me on Facebook…..SemperFi don’t Surrender.
Hey Arnold,
Why is it that you keep coming up with these different scams trying to find out our real names, email addresses and phone numbers?
Like when you kept asking people to email you at a email address you had left or the several times you kept asking for people to call you at a number you at a phone number you had posted.
Now you want people to friend you on face book to get a link to a site you claimed you built.
How many different names did I catch you using even using the different names to hold a conversation with yourself? What was it Six Different names that all go back to the same Email Address. I know when I caught you and posted about it you did not claim that I was wrong.
Why are you collecting this information?
Seymore, it’s all hard-telling. I normally give people/groups their chances and then give up.
The enemies, the two-faced, and corrupt are going to get our information any way they can regardless. Locally we had to hand over copies of our DD-214 to the likes of the Legion to join years back. This came due to all the local corruption and valor thefts. Then such info seems to have leaked into local poly-ticks and to activist. Then try to hire private dicks for some help/ideas only to be told they have ‘conflicts of interest” due to other clients and city connections. And some of them also hold high offices in local VSOs. When I contacted the state and national Legion offices they said to never turn our DDs over to anyone nor register them at city recorders offices like many vets of old used to do to have it for public display or historic uses.
Town meetings we are supposed to stand and say the pledge with a pack of communist leaders who in turn attack and censor the hell out of us. To speak we are demanded to give our names and addresses for the record… for nefarious purposes of course, just not to supposedly prove we are locals. More loss of privacy and security. Then watch it and more spread like wild fires in the activist college town community for all to see, especially if you disagree with the ruling party or cliques on any subject matters.
Try to connect with politicians or others they all want access to our records or info. No anonymity allowed with them or with media heads. This also means turning such info over into the hands of some scum activist staff that cannot be trusted at or heard from or about at scum meetings like with MoveOn, socialist, progressive, student union groups, or Antifa types.
Same thing goes for those utility life support contracts we are to sign to put us high on a list for repairs if the lights go out. They want total unlimited access to our files and life. Cough cough…. that is and has been used by scum who happen to hold high status in local utility companies and be city councilmen. Nice huh? Then to have to cease going to meetings (elsewhere) since strangers can walk by and mention things or ask snarky questions about something only found in our medical files, VA or civilian. Nice trapping isn’t it? Then ‘they’ all want to play nice or suggest total innocence and them being some kind of victim.
Then to consider HIPPA violations from the VA activist and civilian health care worker unions and activist. There is no end to it and why so many top level scum-bags turn their heads to it and others don’t want involved.
Consider all the obstacles we face the above are major show stoppers for any community or for those of us to see the slightest amount of “unity.” All the silence to lack of support also shines some light on so-called vet groups on FB and around that do nothing but give lip service or just enjoy seeing their name in print, known, having some mythical force on FB or supposedly out to help vets having serious issues.
@Arnold Cabral – – – Why would we have to friend you on Facebook to find a website?
Do you mean to say that Google, Bing, Yahoo, and all other search engines would be useless in finding it?
@T – – – All correct, sir. Keep your head down from the incoming, and the target ever in your sights.
I’m just going to say it, buckle-in, might be a bumpy ride:
“[VA employee and union president Tatishka Thomas posted a racist statement against “white privilege” while working at embattled Bay Pines VA, located in Florida….]”
MY white ass is not privilege to ANY VA hack, and definitely not a depository box for Black Privileged Hacks terrorizing Veterans, regardless of sexual preference. But maybe Tatishka, being a Union President and all, is okay with all this because it’s just a cultural thang! (fuck YOU)
Tatishka Thomas, since Syracuse VA Medical Center leadership placed Dr. Cuyler’s Black Privilege NEEDS & EVIL ABUSIVE DESIRES OVER SAFETY OF VETS, please explain to us Veterans how that White Privilege thing works again?
FUCK OFF, VA!!!!!!!!!! Third World Healthcare at it’s fucking best!
Harsh? Fuck NO! I’m pissed that these assholes use the VA as a safe harbor and namely because they could never work anywhere else but perhaps back in the muddaland doing hut to hut witch dr visits for bones.
Fuck OFF! White Privilege my ass!
namnibor,
Great comment! Couldn’t have said it better!
Out from “military.com” via “Stars and Stripes”!
Dated: 6 April 2018
By: Nikki Wentling
Titled;
“VA Claps Back at Shulkin’s Warning of Privatization Threat!”
Well, although many veterans want the VA to be “PRIVATIZED”, it actually comes down to this;
Vets who want to use VHA for their healthcare, more power to them.
Vets who want to use outside healthcare, let them!
That’s what, in my opinion, “Choice” is all about!
The sooner it is given, the sooner we can move forward to prosecuting worthless VA employees – from top to bottom!
As usually the VA is quick to cover its own ass:
Debunking the VA Privatization Myth
“https://www.va.gov/opa/pressrel/pressrelease.cfm?id=4034″
…..”If we’re trying to privatize, we’re not doing a very good job,”…”We’ve gone from 250,000 employees in the VA in 2009 to 370,000 employees, and we’ve gone from a $93.5 billion budget to what the president’s asked this year is $198 billion. It sounds like we’ve been an utter failure if we’re trying to privatize.” – House Committee on Veterans’ Affairs Chairman Phil Roe
Yep. Age 74??? That’s like having to sit and let some old vampire draw blood that can’t hit a vein after several tries then goes to find a younger person to do it. Then later told to not say anything cause of race and the poor ol’ gal is just putting her time in waiting for retirement. Just as bad as those with 4 or 5 inch long claws trying to do the job. WTF does race have to do with it? It’s about competence not union or activist crap.
Set up mandatory retirement ages like airline pilots have to save a plane or passengers. Go out to private practice if they want to ‘practice’ more of their professions. Fire the scum who are too worried about their shiny high heels or trying to do business with their damned ear buds stuck in their ears. Desk clerks constantly chomping on cake and goodies, running off to the cafeteria every ten minutes, or sucking on drinks instead of doing their jobs. Simple fixes that won’t happen.
Same thing goes with older brain dead specialist regardless of clinics. When they are obviously too old, can’t remember blood pressure or sugar limits, can’t remember shit, not put things in our files, create conflicts, go for an appointment then they say ‘don’t know why you have made an appointment nothing more we can do’ etc., then off they should go. They are not there for the benefit or quality of care for vets. Bad part is the unions and VA admin are fully aware of this shit going on and allow for it. Hell, remove them from direct patient care and put them on KP status or painting a wall. Push carts and serve free coffee and donuts. Sheesh.
…off topic a bit sort of….
Ben I like your ad for the newsletter sign up and the chick at the computer looks cool. Was she Special Forces Recon?
If you want I can send you my picture as a disabled vet to use and I would only charge a nominal fee. VERY nominal but negotiable. I could pose with my vaporizer while typing rants about VA into my iPad sort of like the chick at the computer and you could claim 100% authenticity of the scene of a disabled vet. I’ll put a shirt on too if you want but might have to wash one first if you want it as clean as her shirt is.
Let me know bro. It would be very authentic. Think it over.
Semper Fi
If you send me a picture of you in a white tshirt, uncombed hair, vaporizer while typing on your iPad, I will definitely consider replacing the picture above… you know… for authenticity.
Rampant sexual offenders. Rampant drug abusers. Known criminals. Known Liars. Petty thieves. Doctors who cut the wrong way. Shadow juries. Back door deals.
VA has become a safe harbor for that which is vile in our race. Doctors who maim. Juries that kill. Sexual predators. Worms that lie. People that cheat.
…. OR…
Maybe I am wrong. Maybe it has not become a safe harbor – maybe it has always been that way. After all when operating inside of our Constitutuional boundaries all of those things I listed above have been handled and mechanisms have been honed to deal with the filth among us. VA replaces Constitutuional boundaries with VA Directive. VA Directive does not clearly define “filth”…
So what then just exactly is the overarching VA Directive (for internal use only and not to be released to the public)? VA Directive number one is that VA is a safe harbor. It is touted in employment benefits. It is fought against by Congress. It is reported on year after year after year by the press to the embarrassment of a nation. Even the man that coined the phrase as a trademark, “You’re Fired!” and who rose to the most powerful elected position in the world has fought against it and lost. The filth oozes out into sight a bit from time to time like the festering of disease from under the bandage. Todays VA person of the day and topic of blog post is just a bit more oozing into sight. Just one more more empty bottle falling out of the alcoholic’s pickup truck.
VA operates outside of the framework of our Constitution and handles it all by internal Directive instead. It hasn’t worked out very well so far, has it?
“Filth”, by VA Directive Defined: “Offensive and disgusting dirt or refuge;foul matter. Foul Conditions. Moral corruption, obscenity and vulgarism.
“Filth” by VA Directive, is a prerequisite for becoming a minion member of the VA’s AFGE, and furthermore, that same filth must be placed on ALL medical devices, tools, or anything otherwise supposedly sterile in the First World.
“Filth”, by VA Directive, will be how each and every AFGE Minion will look down-upon the very Veterans they are codependent upon for maintaining those sexy waste lines and wasted lives.
“Filth”, also by VA Directive, can be referred to as a “slang” for “DEFILE”…that also applies to ALL Veteran “files”, make sure to “DEFILE” them and you too, can retire after being a sadistic asshole for Uncle Sugar.
Filth can also make any public comments they wish and not be held accountable if they are proclaiming some racist sentiment like White Privilege.
Castrate all these rotten bastards!
It is way past time for some real leadership at the VA. Leadership that speaks truth publicly about how bad things have really gotten. Leadership that develops solutions to take better care of ALL our nations warriors.
Leadership that recognizes that when they are doing a good job – – – it will be veterans singing their praises, rather than the VA needing a PR Agency to put out “Fluff Pieces” to mislead America and her citizens about what a stellar job they are doing.
They are not. In fact, they are doing a very piss-poor job. The VA has a first-world budget which they use to provide veterans less than third-world medical care.
Current VA leadership has their Brain Housing Group the size of mice and their Heart no bigger. It is about FIFTEEN YEARS PAST TIME TO FIX THE DAMN BROKEN VA:
1. IMMEDIATELY recognize the problems inherent in the VA are SYSTEM-WIDE, not just limited to a few locations.
2. Fire all the Lazy No Good Workers. Fire EVERY single AFGE/SES Employee.
3. Sell off all the VA facilities. Alternatively, they may be converted into military barracks-style housing for homeless veterans.
4. Issue all veterans a card that allows them to choose their own doctors within their community that they can TRUST.
5. The United States Government will PAY those doctors promptly (Within 45 days) for the care they provide veterans.
6. ELIMINATE the “Federal Protection” Umbrella for incompetent QUACKS that the VA sends to other states to practice other than their own. Going to practice in XX state? You need to be LICENSED in XX state.
7. Any claim a veteran submits to the VBA that requires more than 90 days to adjudicate, is automatically found to be in favor of the veteran. Should a veteran file a false claim to scam the system, the VA will have to prove in civil court that the claim was falsely submitted. For filing a false claim, the veteran will be subject to ALL of the following:
(A). The claim shall be denied. If the veteran has received any form of benefits because of the false claim they will be required to fully repay the benefits at cost.
(B). The veteran will be banned from all VA facilities for the remainder of their life.
(C). The veteran will lose any benefits they originally have or had, and will not be allowed to file for further benefits.
8. All veterans will be allowed to seek/retain the services of a Veterans Rights Attorney from their first initial contact with the VA. This will help to protect the legal rights of veterans against corrupt and incompetent VA employees.
9. No AFGE, nor any other Labor Union business will be allowed to take place in any Federal Workplace. Conducting Union Business during working hours will be STRICTLY PROHIBITED, and will be STRICTLY ENFORCED. Should any government employee be found violating this provision, it will result in IMMEDIATE LIFETIME DISMISSAL FROM ANY/ALL GOVERNMENTAL EMPLOYMENT.
10. Attorneys for appeal will be retained at the former employee’s PERSONAL expense. U. S. Taxpayer’s will not be subject to payment of legal bills for incompetent or dishonest personnel with regards to Governmental Employment.
You have my contact information Mr. President. Call me anytime. I have a lot of ideas to help this nation improve the services provided to my fellow veterans. The ones that were promised but have yet to be delivered upon. Veterans have been waiting for over fifty years for the fulfillment of those promises. I will not hesitate to speak up at all.
For my fellow veterans who have been ill-served by this DERAILED CLUSTERFUCK of an AWFUL TRAIN WRECK CALLED THE VA over the years:
Our battles overseas were far less stressful than our war here at home. Never Cruel or Cowardly. Never Give Up. Never Give In. We are on the Righteous path.
POTUS Reagan broke up PATCO in the ’80’s. Time for POTUS Trump to break up the AFGE. The vast majority of our current Congress Critters do NOT have Veterans Interests at heart. Perhaps their replacements will. VOTE OUT all these WORTHLESS BASTARDS.
Give their replacement’s one term to take care of Veterans who put aside their own personal lives to answer this nation’s call when she needed them. Many of those Veterans suffer the remainder of their lives for doing what most of their countrymen had not the courage to do.
If they cannot MUSTER THE STONES to do it properly – – – vote their worthless asses out as well. Party should NOT MATTER. What SHOULD MATTER is their VOTING RECORDS ON VETERANS ISSUES.
Rhetoric is cheap. Congressional Voting Records speak louder than words.
NO Combat Veteran should be surprised when the next McVeigh, Congressional Baseball Team, or Las Vegas Sniper Incident occurs. Bound to happen. Just a matter of time . . .
We have now reached the next accelerative phase of our country falling apart. Country before Party. Principles before Personalities. Always.
Want to REALLY fix the VA? The next SecVA needs to be a former Enlisted Man brought in from the general veteran population with a few serious axes to grind against the VA and the AFGE, with zero previous governmental civilian service.
Apparently, Former Flag Officers and SES appointed Civilians can’t cut the mustard to this point . . .
Maybe a SINCERELY MOTIVATED Gunnery Sergeant or Chief Petty Officer CAN.
Disgruntled Veteran
1973 – 1976 USMC
1978 – 1993 USN
Wounded Warrior
Honolulu, Hawaii
James, I love you passion. You have some good insights and solutions. I really don’t think anyone can fix the VA, enlisted or officer, because there are so many facilities and so many issues and so much corruptions that even an excellent Secretary (enlisted or officer) cannot wrangle in. The Secretary need strong ethical moral compassionate knowledgeable compliant enforcer management skills for Executive Leadership, VISN Directors and Medical Center Directors. Next, they all need to be educated on all the VA systems and programs from the law and regulation to know what is legally required then educate their employees, enforcement and accountability.
Each VISN and VAMC should have a Compliance/Oversight Office who works for the VA OIG or similar department/section. Each office will have at least one attorney, medical doctor (?), patient advocate and privacy officer who do not work for the VISN or VAMC to enforce compliance, handle complaints from Veterans/family members/public and provide meditation. The employees have no fear of enforcement because they don’t work for the directors at the VISN or VAMC. The employees also have the authority to push complaints to higher levels for enforcement and compliance.
Each VISN and VAMC director position is a medial doctor and not an administrator. I really don’t understand the thought process of having an administrator in charge of a hospital/medical center.
Congress and the Senate need to allow us to file suits against the VA instead of filing complaints with their offices. It’s been proven of the ineffectiveness of our current systems. It’s ok they aren’t working and no one needs to feel bad – just fix it. I believe this to be true by the majority – we just want it fixed and don’t care about playing the blame game. Who cares, just fix it.
When we cannot hold our own government employees accountable it allows the system to become out of control. Don’t believe me, look at the VA and the years it has been operating out of control and getting worse as the years go by. Employees know they are basically untouchable and even their own supervisors will do nothing and Veterans and the elected officials can’t or won’t do anything. I find it to be more of the won’t than can’t. My own VAMC provided two (2) letters to my congressman full of lies which were easily proved by my medical records. See, they aren’t afraid to lie to congress or the senate. And, as of this email nothing has happened to any of them.
We, as American citizens, need to have a way to hold these employees accountable through our legal system which doesn’t cost us thousands of dollars either. Nothing like have a legitimate case but cannot take action because you don’t have $20k to put down for an attorney. Our government expects compliance from its citizens and holds its citizens accountable (at least has a means to) but its citizens are not offered the same. Our government has the funds by means of our taxes to pay the $20k for the attorney but the majority of its citizens cannot. Why????
I find it extremely sad we, all humans, have the power to live in a world to take care of each other, to live with happiness, food in our bellies, have medical/dental care, etc. but do the opposite. Take all the money away and possessions and clothes – we are all humans with the same needs. No one is better or more superior than the other. Rant, over.
I agree with you the VA needs some major changes and it would be good to finally see if a former enlisted can perform in the position. My opinion, officer, enlisted or civilian cannot help which is why people aren’t lining up to become the Secretary as they realize it cannot be fixed. Yes, you have the few who do it for the stepping stone to another position in their career or for the money and might get one who does it because they truly want it but it isn’t going to be fixed no matter and no matter how much money they put into it.
@thebrownmoose – – – ““In the beginning of a change the patriot is a scarce man, and brave, and hated and scorned. When his cause succeeds, the timid join him, for then it costs nothing to be a patriot.”
― Mark Twain
Those are the words that continue to drive my passion at 62. America is such a blessed land that has gone oh so wrong . . .
I still think the VA CAN be fixed. But the fixing will require some very HARSH methods if it is to happen in a reasonable amount of time – – – say two to three years. I learned as a young Marine and Sailor that I could pretty much sleep anywhere. Were I SecVA – – – there would quite literally be many nights that I would be sleeping on a USMC standard issue field cot set up in my office. Because that is the kind of dedication fixing the VA will require. Not working “Bankers hours” and galavanting off to Wimbledon.
Hard work and sacrifice COULD fix the VA. Most Americans who have not served, do not really understand the meaning of those concepts.
“Each VISN and VAMC should have a Compliance/Oversight Office who works for the VA OIG or similar department/section. Each office will have at least one attorney, medical doctor (?), patient advocate and privacy officer who do not work for the VISN or VAMC to enforce compliance, handle complaints from Veterans/family members/public and provide meditation. The employees have no fear of enforcement because they don’t work for the directors at the VISN or VAMC. The employees also have the authority to push complaints to higher levels for enforcement and compliance.
Each VISN and VAMC director position is a medial doctor and not an administrator. I really don’t understand the thought process of having an administrator in charge of a hospital/medical center.
Congress and the Senate need to allow us to file suits against the VA instead of filing complaints with their offices. It’s been proven of the ineffectiveness of our current systems. It’s ok they aren’t working and no one needs to feel bad – just fix it. I believe this to be true by the majority – we just want it fixed and don’t care about playing the blame game. Who cares, just fix it.”
I most CERTAINLY agree with every single word!
@thebrownmoose
I like your idea of a medical mediation team with zero ties to the VISN/VAMC. It ia a sad realization that the VHA is so entangled in a maze of confusing autonomy, that they can not coherently communicate patient needs/progress within their own VISN/VAMC.
There needs to be a continuity in the way all of the VHA care facilities input/update patient medical information, insuring the “problem list” of symptoms is eviscerated and patient care is based on actual diagnosis(es) of the individual patient, and not the “You’ve got a symptom? We have (plenty of) pills for that!” to create more symptoms for additional pill popping; let’s see, …which color combos haven’t you tried yet?
Imagine the military operating like the VHA is mismanaged. There needs to be real medical care, with a genuine attempt made to heal each and every patient at all of the VHA facilities, by every single person working within the entire system of care, PERIOD.
Rosie,
I totally agree. I’ve been on so many different combos. Last year, I told my psych doctors I do not want to take any more psych meds because none work and the very pills they are giving me to treat me has the same side effects. Example, I have MDD so they gave me a pill for depression but when I read the side effects it states it can cause depression. Yes, it can cause it. I asked them why would they even give it to treat me for depression when the side effect is the same thing they are treating. She said, I know and smiled. No one none of the psych meds work and cause your issues to get worse.
Yet, another way to get people to end their own lives – make their condition worse and see if they will kill themselves.
Just need to close the doors on the medical facilities.
@Rosie @thebrownmoose – – – I can quite easily see that you two have your heads in the solutions “game”. Good on both of you!
Most likely will never happen – – – but if they ever “draft” me for SecVA, you will be “drafted” by me to serve as Planning and Implementation Officers”.
Wish I could type more. Once I get my speech recognition software . . .
Sigh.
James,
Love your quote and it’s so true.
It’s a lonely world sometimes when you are fighting a corrupt organization. It’s been my issues throughout my life, I cannot be corrupt or allow someone to be corrupt or turn the other cheek or look away. Times I’ve told myself just don’t care like the rest of them – nope, I cannot do it. It’s like trying to not breathe. I’ve been like this since I was a child – always praying for others, praying for people to be kind/compassionate, for me to take their pain and carry it, etc. As an adult, I still wanted these things but realized no amount of prayer will fix it – people have to openly discuss it and practice it.
I agree with you on sleeping on a cot burning the midnight oil. I would be out visiting all the facilities talking to the leadership, employees and patients. You have to talk to all involved to find out what the issues are and I don’t do the he say, she say either. I also don’t just take someone’s word if it doesn’t sound or feel right – I read the regulations, policies, speak to other subject matter experts and I’m a ‘show me’ person. I speak to each individual, investigate (read the laws and regulations) and then get all parties together to make a decision. I always try to allow individuals to fix their issues (counsel, educate, and support) before reprimand or removal unless it’s a clear violation. I hold people accountable and enforce the law. I like structure and rules but I’m not a tyrant either. lol. The reason I loved the military – structure and rules; and it works which is something the VA is lacking. Sad part is, 1/3 of the employees are former military but I do know, it’s hard when the two are mixed and you have key leadership who are civilians (yes, there are some exceptional civilian leadership and some bad military leadership so my comments are not implying all of either side.)
Well, they have a structure and rules but elect not to use either. The few VA leadership at my local VAMC I’ve spoken to, tell me “I feel’ or “I believe” but I tell them there is no feeling and believing in the law, regulations and policies – it’s what is written regardless of what we feel or believe. I’m talking about things such as the regulation states it’s my primary care provider’s responsibility to perform an exam and my VAMC tells me a social worker can do my exam because they feel or believe she should do it. (This actually happened to me. A social worker is not a medical doctor and cannot perform clinical responsibilities or make medical determinations of a licensed medial provider).
I still stand firm the medical centers need to close their doors for obvious reasons since their opened their doors. We will always be test subjects and a training ground for medical and mental health professionals. W will always be exploited, maimed and killed with no accountability because of these reasons – test subjects. Even our integrated electronic medical records are opened to allow anyone VA has granted access to can access every Veterans record worldwide without compliance with HIPPA/Privacy laws such as obtaining a written authorization or a medical need to know or minimum necessary for treatment. Don’t believe me, give your privacy officer a written request to mark your records sensitive (only way VA can track who accessed your records and they do not automatically mark a Veterans records but they do for VA employees). Then from that date send a written request to your privacy officer requesting a SPAR report (sensitive patient access report) every month. The report starts the day your records are marked. Look at your records each month to see the different names, agencies and others who have accessed your records. In four months (not receiving treatment during this time) I had 40 unauthorized (none were my doctors or specialty doctors) accesses. I’ve received 2 confirmed violations from HHS but HHS only provided technical assistance to the VA. The VA is the largest HIPAA/Privacy violators (thousands) every year and has never been fined. Why? I have no idea but I’m sure it has something to do with us being test subjects and allowing other agencies to access our records to do whatever they want with them.
It isn’t hard to fix an organization if our government wants to fix it. I recently attended a congressional meeting on a VA program which has been stumping congress on the issues and why VA is having such difficulty in managing it. After the hearing, my first, it was obvious to us (spouse and I) the issues. The congressional committee knows the law but they don’t know the VA regulation and directive and how it’s carried out. The VA knows this and therefore can easily provide vague answer or lies to the congressional hearing. Yes, there were several lies told that day and vague answers. People like me who likes reading the law, regulations and directives can tell a fact for a lie. We, as people, expect when we go to an agency we will receive honest and accurate information and will not ask to see their regulation or policy – we shouldn’t have to. We also don’t expect people to lie to us regardless of our position but it happens all the time especially in the VA. We recently meet with our congressman who admitted he is familiar with this program even though he sits on the board. Granted, I understand our elected officials cannot know everything about everything. I understand he has people who suppose to check into matters and educated him. Sometimes it works and sometimes it doesn’t. The major problem is, everyone does the ‘I believe’ or ‘I feel’ instead of breaking out the laws, regulations, and policies to read what is written. If we as a society to continue to operate off our beliefs and feelings instead of the written law then we are doomed and chaos will continue. Why pass laws if we are just going to follow beliefs and feelings? Why pass laws if we are just going off one persons words vs another persons words?
My biggest pet peeve is…he say vs she say and “I feel” or “I believe” instead of pulling out the regulations and policies to make a decision based on the written language of these documents. Urgh! Major issue in the VA – no one reads and operated on beliefs and feelings.
Rant over!
@thebrownmoose – – – “It’s a lonely world sometimes when you are fighting a corrupt organization. It’s been my issues throughout my life, I cannot be corrupt or allow someone to be corrupt or turn the other cheek or look away. Times I’ve told myself just don’t care like the rest of them – nope, I cannot do it.”
Felt like that since I can remember. Still do. Took a beating (broken bones) at the age of 16 for dating a young, beautiful, highly intelligent and smart woman who happened to be black. In the early ’70’s – – – that was something that (my parents words “how could you do something like that? Don’t you know how that will affect our reputation? Our son will not date . . .” Racist A-Holes who did not possess the intelligence to comprehend that inter-racial relationships should only be the business of the people in the relationship.
Left Maplewood, Missouri as soon as I was old enough to enlist. Enlisted in the Marine Corps to avoid the draft, and never looked back. Never really paid attention to politics while on active duty – – – far too busy, and the communication tools we have available today for time-shifting purposes – – – had not yet been invented.
I have operated in so called third-world countries that were a lot less corrupt than the United States is today. Frankly, if I ever receive my retirement and benefits, I will quiet quickly become an expat. Tired of all the noise and bullshit. Just want to go someplace with my dogs to live without all the modern conveniences that most of our countrymen thinks they cannot live without. I have not owned a motor vehicle since 2000 – – – don’t miss it at all. You get the picture . . .
I loved all your ideas, as I have had every single one of them over the years. America is a nation of laws, yet cannot abide by them nor enforce them in the manner in which they should be. Why then even have them? Just stupid. The Justice System has become a Legal System that damn near makes it impossible for the average citizen to receive ANY measure of true justice when wronged.
As I stated before – – – America writ large could use some cleaning up. Most of her citizens would find the methods necessary to do it rather harsh, and would not have the intestinal fortitude to help make it happen.
America is the world’s most blessed, most corrupt, most wasteful (think experience and talent over formal education) nation on the face of the earth.
James. I’m with you. I can’t stand by and do nothing. I am not that mugged, beat, threatened, bullied, silenced kid by authority figures, the activist, SDS, cliques, or the school boards in Jr. High on up, today. Far from the whirlwind of resistance in my younger days but I will most definitely stand my ground or for others if need be. Hell, I have had to walk miles home or in the dead of winter lost jobs, walk home, just cause other idiots in the crew thought it was funny to pass by and let old folks be stuck in deep snow and with a flat tire. F-em, the union, let me out, send me my check, I’ll walk home but these old folks are not going to be stranded out here in this sub-zero weather alone, gas amount unknown and un-aided. Piss on that stuff. Which such uncaring attitudes and sentiments are more than common in the present sick ass culture.
Like some before used to say, shortened:
“Here I stand.
I can’t do otherwise.
God help me.”
Amen.
Nice job paragraphs easy to read