ptsd Obama Pressures Peake

[Berta]

Source Ray B. Davis Veterans Resources

"Dear Readers,

We had asked in our last email that you contact the Presidential

candidates and ask what they think of the VA fraud of ordering staff to

falsify medical records and diagnosis in order to save money.

Senator Obama is the only one I have heard has any concern for this

issue. I don't know if the other candidates just have not heard or

don't care, I will post when I know their stand. (see article about

Sen. Obama below my signature).

Also all VA Doctors are under pressure by the VA regional Office

adjudicators to make decisions not based on sound medical judgment, but

on denying benefits, as such any other VA employee who can blow the

whistle (whistle-blowers) on VA corruption should be called forward and

given protection against possible harm. I commend the VA employee who

made known the email of Dr. Perez, and hope that this employee does not

face harm as a result of being an honest VA employee.

All VA people like Dr, Perez should be kicked out of the VA and

prosecuted to the fullest extent allowed by law.

Your Editor,

Ray B Davis, Jr

http://www.valaw.org

--Start Obama call for investigation--

Obama Demands VA Investigation Into PTSD Diagnoses

By Daniel W. Reilly

May 16, 2008

(The Politico) Sen. Barack Obama (D-Ill.) is demanding an investigation

into reports that a supervisor at a Texas Veterans' Affairs facility

told staff members to refrain from diagnosing returning war veterans

with post-traumatic stress disorder in order to reduce costs.

On Friday, Obama sent a letter to Veterans Affairs Secretary James

Peake expressing his "serious concerns" over the reports and demanding

an investigation.

The Washington Post broke the story on Friday, which included emails

from Dr. Norma Perez suggesting to her staff members that they "refrain

from giving a diagnosis of PTSD straight out," because of the

increasing costs of treating the disorder.

"Simply put, Ms. Perez's email is outrageous," Obama wrote in the

letter. "As you well know, PTSD is the most prevalent mental disorder

afflicting our returning...veterans."

"In order to receive their deserved benefits, these brave men and women

must endure a long and arduous process. To hear that a VA official is

promoting misdiagnoses of soldiers to save money is unacceptable and is

tantamount to fraud. "

Peake issued a statement on the matter, saying that Perez's email

was "inappropriate" and did not reflect VA policy.

"Too many veterans see the VA as a bureaucracy with the singular goal

of denying services and benefits to veterans," said Obama. "This recent

incident merely serves to promote that impression."

The Democratic presidential hopeful gave Peake a deadline of May 23 to

inform him if the department will open an investigation.

Obama, who is a member of the Senate Veterans' Affairs Committee, also

wrote a letter to committee chairman Sen. Daniel Akaka (D-Hawaii)

asking him to look into the matter.

Copyright 2008 POLITICO

http://www.cbsnews.com/stories/2008/05/16/...co/thecrypt/mai

n4103492.shtml

--end--"

_

[windy city]

Source Ray B. Davis Veterans Resources

"Dear Readers,

We had asked in our last email that you contact the Presidential

candidates and ask what they think of the VA fraud of ordering staff to

falsify medical records and diagnosis in order to save money.

Senator Obama is the only one I have heard has any concern for this

issue. I don't know if the other candidates just have not heard or

don't care, I will post when I know their stand. (see article about

Sen. Obama below my signature).

Also all VA Doctors are under pressure by the VA regional Office

adjudicators to make decisions not based on sound medical judgment, but

on denying benefits, as such any other VA employee who can blow the

whistle (whistle-blowers) on VA corruption should be called forward and

given protection against possible harm. I commend the VA employee who

made known the email of Dr. Perez, and hope that this employee does not

face harm as a result of being an honest VA employee.

All VA people like Dr, Perez should be kicked out of the VA and

prosecuted to the fullest extent allowed by law.

Your Editor,

Ray B Davis, Jr

http://www.valaw.org

--Start Obama call for investigation--

Obama Demands VA Investigation Into PTSD Diagnoses

By Daniel W. Reilly

May 16, 2008

(The Politico) Sen. Barack Obama (D-Ill.) is demanding an investigation

into reports that a supervisor at a Texas Veterans' Affairs facility

told staff members to refrain from diagnosing returning war veterans

with post-traumatic stress disorder in order to reduce costs.

On Friday, Obama sent a letter to Veterans Affairs Secretary James

Peake expressing his "serious concerns" over the reports and demanding

an investigation.

The Washington Post broke the story on Friday, which included emails

from Dr. Norma Perez suggesting to her staff members that they "refrain

from giving a diagnosis of PTSD straight out," because of the

increasing costs of treating the disorder.

"Simply put, Ms. Perez's email is outrageous," Obama wrote in the

letter. "As you well know, PTSD is the most prevalent mental disorder

afflicting our returning...veterans."

"In order to receive their deserved benefits, these brave men and women

must endure a long and arduous process. To hear that a VA official is

promoting misdiagnoses of soldiers to save money is unacceptable and is

tantamount to fraud. "

Peake issued a statement on the matter, saying that Perez's email

was "inappropriate" and did not reflect VA policy.

"Too many veterans see the VA as a bureaucracy with the singular goal

of denying services and benefits to veterans," said Obama. "This recent

incident merely serves to promote that impression."

The Democratic presidential hopeful gave Peake a deadline of May 23 to

inform him if the department will open an investigation.

Obama, who is a member of the Senate Veterans' Affairs Committee, also

wrote a letter to committee chairman Sen. Daniel Akaka (D-Hawaii)

asking him to look into the matter.

Copyright 2008 POLITICO

http://www.cbsnews.com/stories/2008/05/16/...co/thecrypt/mai

n4103492.shtml

--end--"

_

I hope that she get her A** fired, Maybe we need a new president that can come in and clean house in the VA system. I can imagine all these texas veterans who suffer from PTSD and had to go their for treatment or C&P exams the denials they probably got. Thanks for the topic Berta if it wasn't for you I would have never known about this incident.

[john999]

Peake should go for not taking immediate action to fire this person. He is just a stoodge for Bush. He could get fired from the VA and scuttle back to QTC as medical director. Top "leadership" at VA is a cesspool of corrution.

[goofycow]

It will not matter if we get another president from another party. Things will pretty much stay the same.

Liz

[Pete53]

The VA speaks in code and when something gets out they try to cover up. Dr "Adjustment Disorder" Perez was a Team Leader and not a Doctor but a Psychologist. You don't think that her Team was handing out many diagnosis of PTSD.

[Jazona]

Yes, Pete, but this just speaks volumns as to the code of conduct by VA employees. It speaks truth to the quality of C&Ps and the attitude of examining Drs. It exemplifies the climate of the VA at least for the nearly forty years I've been dealing with them.

The phoney shock and surprize by or critters is laughable due to the fact they are the ones that shaped and molded the VA into what it is today. Wouldn't it be more honest all around to just say "you were dumb enough to enlist, you get what's coming to you...nothing".

jaz

[john999]

Jaz

That is exactly what I was told in basic training. You dumb bastards who enlisted deserve this crap.