Kansas City, Mo. — The Veterans of Foreign Wars will not stand by while
veterans seeking the health care they have earned and deserve languish.
Deliberate and concerted efforts to neglect and ignore the needs of the
critically ill cannot be labeled as anything less than criminal malfeasance.
The Department of Veterans Affairs’ failure to monitor or audit the processes
at its Phoenix facility, given the history of problems and complaints there, is
an appalling example of failed leadership.
Although the VA
has an Inspector General, we feel that given the controversial allegations that
have recently come to light this position is arguably akin to asking the fox to
guard the hen house.
That is why the VFW
will carefully scrutinize the procedures for treating veterans at all VA health
care facilities. In addition, the VFW is calling for an independent review of
the recent findings associated with the Phoenix investigation.
This tragic breach of trust
doesn't lie with doctors or nurses, but with the bureaucrats who are safely
entrenched within the system. It's time to eliminate the bonuses, fat
paychecks and positions of those who would violate this most sacred trust. It
is paramount that Secretary Shinseki move immediately to ensure measures are
put in place to reestablish the credibility of the entire VA health care system
and importantly, that of the office of the Secretary of VA.
Additionally, the VFW calls on Congress to move
expeditiously in this matter and to ensure that concrete, corrective action is
taken to ensure veterans experiencing issues with obtaining VA Primary and
Specialty Care at other facilities are resolved.