By IL Radio Network
Washington, D.C. – AN ILLINOIS CONGRESSMAN SAYS HE THINKS THE DEPARTMENT OF VETERANS AFFAIRS IS COVERING UP THE NUMBER OF VETS ATTEMPTING SUICIDE.
PHIL HARE SAYS THERE ARE ABOUT ONE THOUSAND VETERANS A MONTH ATTEMPTING SUICIDE, EVEN THOUGH A MEMO FROM THE V-A SAID THAT NUMBER WAS ACTUALLY ONLY 38 SUICIDE ATTEMPTS A MONTH.
HARE SAYS THE V-A SHOULD ACKNOWLEDGE THAT IT NEEDS MORE MONEY FOR HEALTH CARE SERVICES.
HARE SAYS HE EXPECTS TO SEE LEGISLATION LATER THIS YEAR TO REQUIRE THE U-S DEPARTMENT OF VETERANS AFFAIRS TO SCREEN EVERY VETERAN FOR MENTAL HEALTH PROBLEMS, AND MONITOR VETERANS FOR AT LEAST FIVE YEARS INSTEAD OF THE CURRENT 18 MONTHS.
THE MARION V-A CENTER HAS HAD ITS OWN TROUBLE. SURGERIES WERE HALTED THERE LAST YEAR AFTER THE DEATHS OF AT LEAST NINE PATIENTS. SOME OUT-PATIENT PROCEDURES STARTED AGAIN IN MAY. LAST MONTH, FEDERAL INVESTIGATORS RECOMMENDED THE REASSIGNMENT AND REPLACEMENT OF SEVERAL TOP ADMINISTRATORS AT MARION... AS WELL AS THE CREATION OF ANOTHER PANEL TO LOOK INTO SEXUAL HARASSMENT CLAIMS BY EMPLOYEES.
