#MeToo: Former QTC Doctor Prosecuted For ‘Penetrating’ Veterans During VA Disability Compensation Exams
The Department of Veterans Affairs and its contractor QTC Medical Services are embroiled in their own #MeToo lawsuit involving sexual assault allegations of four Jane Does following disability compensation examination performed by the contract at a VA facility.
Four female VA patients at Oceanside are now Jane Does One through Four in a civil sexual assault complaint against one Dr. Edgar Manzanera. The women, all seeking treatment for a pension disability claim of some kind, allege that Manzanera initiated unwelcome sexual contact via penetration with a foreign object.
“Out on a $150,000 bond, Dr. Edgar Manzanera is slated to be arraigned on Wednesday afternoon in California Superior Court’s North County Regional Center in Vista on four separate felony counts of sexually penetrating the women with a foreign object,” according to the San Diego Union-Tribune.
The body of the legal complaint states that one of the women was forced to disrobe, don a medical gown, and then for no real medical reason, lift the gown over her head.
Having done so, the patient could not now see her doctor’s next actions: the penetration mentioned above, and other physical battery of the patient. “He then told her to hold her gown up higher; and then higher again until she was holding it so high that it was over her head, and she could not see what he was doing,” the complaint states.
False imprisonment is also a charge brought by this complaint.
These Jane Does, all disabled veterans, assert that they are left feeling humiliated, sad and in great distress as a result of this man’s violations. The doctor could not be reached for comment.
This lawsuit is brought against the individual doctor, against the VA, and against a former employer of the doctor, QTC Medical Services. They seek general damages for pain and suffering, and punitive damages for Manzanera’s reprehensible conduct.
The dollar amount is unspecified.
QTC Medical Services Responds
Why does this VA Disability Compensation case involve a non-VA employee?
QTC was awarded a $6.8 billion nationwide contract by the VA last August to handle disability exams for veterans and separating military personnel.
QTC employees in Oceanside, the facility where the alleged assaults took place, have stated that Manzanera is no longer with them. That said, the State of California’s Medical Board has not yet ruled on this case, which might mean that he found another job somewhere.
“Allegations of this kind are an affront to all that we stand for as a company,” said Melissa Lee Koskovich, Senior Vice President of Communications & Marketing for Leidos.
“Individuals referred to us for assessments are served with the utmost care. While we can’t comment in detail on the matter due to ongoing investigations, we can share that when questionable conduct by this subcontracted provider was brought to our attention nearly two years ago, we immediately terminated the relationship with the provider and fully cooperated with authorities.”
Manzanera Medical License
Dr. Manzanera’s medical license is currently valid, and it expires at the end of August 2019. It is not known whether he is currently treating patients.
This physician is on record as having graduated from a Guatemalan university of medicine in 2008. That university is called Francisco Marroquin University Faculty of Medicine.
Source: https://www.sandiegouniontribune.com/military/sd-me-va-arrest-20180618-story.html
06/22/2018
Dear Benjamin Krause,
One of your readers stated, “We need a class action lawsuit against the VA for hiring incompetent and unqualified examiners.”
That is a start.
Another reader stated, “Something BIG TIME wrong with this damn picture. Is the VA a reflection of our Nation?”
Yes!
Torres any relation to the crime family in Phoenix?
James Box, Senior Editor of the Daily Breeze, asked Karlheinz A. Halter [1994? at the now razed newspaper building on Torrance Blvd. next to the former Puch International Building that was torn down for a unusually small McDonalds—to hide the allegations of the extreme breakins in the 1970s], “Are they all lying?”
The answer was Yes!—-1998 Cox Report
Sincerely,
Don Karg
#VAScrewedMeToo
Trump needs to get his ass together in starting to collect data on complaints, correlate the complaints to the facilities, and flood these facilities with Federal Special Investigating Task Force to gather criminal data and information on suspected corrupt VA employees, or groups of employees.
Build new prison constructed by Vets, staffed with Vets that have been screwed over by VA. These bass-turds would start changing.
No power in the Accountability Act. Wasn’t strong enough when the EO was first signed.
In the meantime, we’ve got Brothers and Sisters killing themselves, and many Vet’s lives are in jeopardy. Something BIG TIME wrong with this damn picture. Is the VA a reflection of our Nation?
Veterans affairs clerk stole personal information of more than 1,000 patients
A medical center in Long Beach, California, which has since fired a clerk who was found with hard drives and flash drives filled with private information, originally claimed he had the data “so that he could work from home.”
By Ryan Johnston
June 18, 2018 4:50 PM
“A former employee of the Long Beach Veterans Affairs Medical Center in Southern California has been sentenced to three years in prison for stealing the personal information of more than 1,000 patients, according to the facility.
In April, a police search of the vehicle of Albert Torres, then a clerk at the VA, revealed patient data — including names, dates of birth and full Social Security numbers.
Torres was initially pulled over after a records search indicated that the license plates on his vehicle did not match the VIN number of the car, according to a press release from the VA Long Beach Healthcare System. The facility reported that police spotted a pill bottle in his car for which he did not have a prescription — it was later found to contain Gabapentin, a medication sometimes used to treat anxiety, epilepsy or pain associated with shingles.
After obtaining a search warrant for Torres’s apartment, police found hard drives and flash drives containing the personal information of an additional 1,014 patients, as well as cleaning supplies, worth $1,031.
VA Long Beach Healthcare System spokesperson Richard Beam said that Torres initially said he was in possession of the information “so that he could work from home,” but that VA workers very rarely, if ever, take home hard copies of patient information.
“It’s disappointing that somebody would take advantage of those we are entrusted to care for,” Beam told the Daily Breeze.
Beam added that the VA conducts annual employee training on patient privacy, HIPPA and cybersecurity, but incidents like this are very difficult to prevent completely — access to the same type of information that was stolen is required to schedule and care for veterans, he said.
In a statement, the VA said it has no reason to believe any of the data was used for fraudulent purposes, and that all potentially affected patients will receive notification letters and 12 months of free credit monitoring services.”
“https://statescoop.com/veterans-affairs-clerk-stole-personal-information-of-more-than-1-000-patients”
VA Reveals its Veteran Suicide Statistic Included Active-Duty Troops
Stars and Stripes 21 Jun 2018 By Nikki Wentling
“WASHINGTON – For years, the Department of Veterans Affairs reported an average of 20 veterans died by suicide every day — an often-cited statistic that raised alarm nationwide about the rate of veteran suicide.
However, the statistic has long been misunderstood, according to a report released this week.
The VA has now revealed the average daily number of veteran suicides has always included deaths of active-duty servicemembers and members of the National Guard and Reserve, not just veterans.
Craig Bryan, a psychologist and leader of the National Center for Veterans Studies, said the new information could now help advocates in the fight against military and veteran suicide.
“The key message is that suicides are elevated among those who have ever served,” Bryan said. “The benefit of separating out subgroups is that it can help us identify higher risk subgroups of the whole, which may be able to help us determine where and how to best focus resources.”
The VA released its newest National Suicide Data Report on Monday, which includes data from 2005 through 2015. Much in the report remained unchanged from two years ago, when the VA reported suicide statistics through 2014. Veteran suicide rates are still higher than the rest of the population, particularly among women.
In both reports, the VA said an average of 20 veterans succumbed to suicide every day. In its newest version, the VA was more specific.
The report shows the total is 20.6 suicides every day. Of those, 16.8 were veterans and 3.8 were active-duty servicemembers, guardsmen and reservists, the report states. That amounts to 6,132 veterans and 1,387 servicemembers who died by suicide in one year.
The VA’s 2012 report stated 22 veterans sucumbbed to suicide every day — a number that’s still often cited incorrectly. That number also included active-duty troops, Guard and Reserve, VA Press Secretary Curt Cashour said Wednesday.”
“https://www.military.com/daily-news/2018/06/21/va-reveals-its-veteran-suicide-statistic-included-active-duty-troops.html”
Veterans facing new obstacle after appeal is denied in burn pit case
By Perry Chiaramonte | Fox News
“In a crushing blow to tens of thousands of veterans who say they were made ill by the use of open burn pits, dozens of lawsuits against a military contractor in charge of the waste disposal method will not move forward after a recent appellate court ruling.
A three-judge panel of the 4th Circuit Court of Appeals agreed on Wednesday with a federal judge in Maryland, who last year threw out the lawsuits brought against KBR, a former Halliburton Corp. subsidiary.
More than 60 lawsuits allege that KBR’s practice of dumping tires, batteries, medical waste and other materials into open burn pits created harmful smoke that caused neurological problems, cancers and other health issues in more than 800 service members.
The panel found that the military had unrestricted control over KBR so that company decisions on waste management and water services were “de facto military decisions” not appropriate for judicial review.”
“https://www.foxnews.com/us/2018/06/21/veterans-dealt-new-obstacle-after-appeal-is-denied-in-burn-pit-case.html”
Crisis in counseling: How VA leadership is driving combat veteran counselors to burnout
By: Todd South 2 hours ago
“Dozens of counselors say that new metric-driven expectations are driving counselors to quit their jobs, retire early and that is hurting care for veterans. VA leadership says most counselors are meeting new standards and new accountability measures are aimed at helping improve service to veteran clients.”
“https://www.militarytimes.com/news/your-military/2018/06/21/crisis-in-counseling-how-va-leadership-is-driving-combat-veteran-counselors-to-burnout/”
Alleged altercation at US Senate hearing between VA staffer and MVP founder
By Shawn Wheat |
Posted: Thu 5:46 PM, Jun 21, 2018
“In a recent e-mail exchange, Military Veteran Project (MVP) founder Melissa Jarboe told Joseph Burks, the Public Affairs Officer for VA Eastern Kansas Health Care System, to cease and desist any communication with her.
“The physical attack, verbal abuse and intimidation you displayed on April 27, 2017 has not been forgotten, rather thoroughly documented via video, audio and written statement to appropriate parties and chain of command,” Jorboe said in the e-mail, obtained by 13 NEWS.
Jarboe declined an on camera interview, but told 13 NEWS, she was called to testify by Senator Jerry Moran, at a hearing on “Preventing Veteran Suicide”.
When asked by Senator Moran if there was a partnership between the MVP program and the VA, Jarboe said, “We do not currently have a strong partnership with the Veterans Administration. We are there if they need us. We are not asked to attend any of their boards. We are not a part of their direct community approach or outreaches. But, we will still eagerly assist the Veterans Administration when they are in crisis or in need because that’s what we’re supposed to do as Americans.”
Burks was sitting right behind Jarboe while she testified, but he did not testify himself.
Jarboe says after the meeting had adjourned, and several people left room, Burks came up to her aggressively and allegedly put his finger on her chest and pushed her backward. She says he was upset by her comments about the lack of partnership between the two organizations.”
“https://www.wibw.com/content/news/486205441.html”
What did “lil’ Cox just say????????????????????????
Oh yes, thats right, the countries bigglyest and bestyest, health care system….
You mean they found even more slime at VA? Wow. Who knew that the vermin inhabiting the halls of healing at VA would attract more of their own? Is that normal? I mean not just at Roseburg OR VAMC but like all over VA? Thank goodness we don’t actually hire sex offenders – we just contract for them… right?…. oh… wait a minute. Never mind.
“Same shit. Different day. We are the VA.”
“https://www.thenewstribune.com/news/local/military/article71256827.html”
“https://www.breitbart.com/big-journalism/2017/02/18/attkissons-feb-19-full-measure-investigates-va-contractor-accused-of-cheating-veterans/”
Now I understand the problem getting my remand C&P. Contractor. They don’t want to do the full exam because it would cost too much. And apparently they have to serve their area so they don’t want to pay travel to their location, 300 miles from my location to Colorado Springs. I was wondering why the exam was being done in Colorado Springs instead of Denver or even closer, Cheyenne. They don’t even have personnel to do TBI exams in Hot Springs, SD or Fort Meade. I’m Probably cutting back VA physician staff to avoid the 1151 claims. These women get to go directly to court against the contractor. The VA should also be brought in for not supervising the contract.
The VA hires whomever to do those exams. If it isn’t a nurse practitioner assigned to do the job of a
specialist/physician, it’s witch doctors from Kukamonga.
We need a class action lawsuit against the VA for hiring incompetent and unqualified examiners.
va shithole deathcare @@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
A “$150,000. Bond” amount on this asshole whom was sexually traumatizing Veterans?
Going out on a limb here but…if the “Jane Does” had been U.S. Olympic Team Members or anyone in NFL raising exact same charges against exact same asshole, that same “Bond” would then be in the MILLION$….but since these are only nonhuman test subjects, let’s ensure his Bail Bond allows him to flee back and be the Dr. for his family Drug Cartel back in the homey land?
AFGE President David “little” Cox: And you are still worried about we oh-so-dangerous Veterans threatening your asshole minions? Fuck Off! These four “Jane Does” should be able to have some fun with a meat grinder and this Dr. AND a huge payout….
Here we go again! Another “immigrant” from a “third world ‘shithole’ practicing medicine for the VA”!
Will wonders never cease!
These types of “cases” are becoming all to frequent!
I hope those “female disabled veterans” get their compensation and justice against that ASSHOLE!
Priorities are screwed up in the country, especially in the sanctuary state of Indiana. Media and clowns totally disregard veteran’s issues and all the corruption going on but will air Antifa, this group here, militant groups, the socialist and Marxist, and many others favoring the left of things but these same clowns are the ones refusing my reports and news about the VA, city corruption and what VA and civvy health care, identity politics, political thuggery, retribution is all about.
Bring in the ones who hate us already but love our free stuff, money, free education, tax free loans, etc. Will vote to ruin this country, to working in VA hospitals and else where minus a proper bed side manner or can barely understand English? Who will not assimilate into what American life is supposed to be besides making us bow or kill us off.
Notice the fake news, lies, where the blame is misplaced and who the voting process is intended for and why.
“https://www.mywabashvalley.com/news/local-advocates-join-movement/1254268054”
America, vets, aren’t even on the list to be concerned about. Either is foreigners coming here like MDs doing their sick things and pulling crap like Medicare scams or making patients pay for stuff insurance won’t, and plenty of etc. Then the system like the VA, media, government local/state/Feds preventing anything to be done over any of it. We turn out to be the bad guys and put on domestic terrorist list or enemies of the special interest groups and ‘protestors’, not the ones who really deserve it.
I was told by a out of town news birdie that if they were to come out and video tape me on my little on man protest it would mean their jobs. Tells the whole big story right there.
Dr. Edgar Manzanera will just get a slap on the wrist and knowing the VA and special interest groups he’ll have a fine job or placement somewhere else. Maybe another VA or working for a mafia.