A couple things have occurred as I’ve followed press coverage describing the dysfunctional outpatient care infrastructure at the Army’s Walter Reed Medical Facility. First, is anyone really surprised that veterans’ ongoing health care needs are often ignored or inadequately treated once they’re outpatients? Haven’t we heard vets complain about the VA system since at least the 1960s? This administration has made a habit of underfunding health care for vets, but both parties have long ignored the crumbling bureaucracy that is supposed to care for our returned servicemembers.
Second–and Carol makes this point quite powerfully–the conditions uncovered at Walter Reed are no worse than those confronting countless people with disabilities who are warehoused in nursing homes and institutions across the country. The inadequacy of the care provided to our veterans is certainly deserving of attention, but our outrage and sympathy should not be limited to only those cases. Everyone who requires long-term care deserves to be treated humanely and with dignity.
As a medical student, resident and now physician, I have witnessed less than optimal care for veterans. The cruel joke was, “if it works on veterans, let’s try it on some dogs”. The “Deans’ ” VA’s – those affiliated with a medical school, are generally much better than the “Non-Deans'” VA’s – those out in the hinterlands. Unfortunately, the personnel in those outlying facilities are ofetn the dregs. In addition, while I detest the present legal system, there is no risk in treating or mistreating veterans.