I have some firsthand experience with this type of behavior. First I've heard of these rumors, but frankly it wouldn't surprise me anymore.
Revisit the Walter Reed Army Medical Center (WRAMC) scandal, and consider the fact that this was a top-facility for wounded veterans in the capital of
the United States of America, during wartime, in what can only be described as an utter travesty.
Look at the statistics-fudging of war casualties, and injuries. Everything is compartmentalized, and all the staff are virtually clueless. It's not
uncommon to be misdiagnosed, or be given conflicting medications from several doctors. It's a system designed to fail, on it's own weight, among other
factors.
I'm an Army veteran, served 2 tours in Iraq. Post-2nd Tour, I was held on medical leave for a physical injury. I won't say where, nor how long. Though
I will say that I spent some time in Walter Reed soon after the scandal had broken, and damage-control was in full swing. I first started to witness
low-level corruption with the out-patient facilities. What one would come to expect where statistics, guidelines and numbers needed to be adhered to.
Staff in collusion with each other in order to make as many soldier's health claims "go away", and try to make them illegitimate. I saw neglect,
harassment, intimidation and downright incompetence. A lot of the staff was unfit for duty, and several I knew of, had substance-abuse problems.
I personally knew of at least one death, involved in a medication conflict, and overdose as such. He died in his room and was not discovered for at
least 3 days. I know of, and handled personally, 1 soldier who would have died had myself and another not taken him to a civilian hospital for
immediate treatment. He had a brain tumor, which would have hemorrhaged had he waited much longer. He was supposed to be under close supervision by
the staff on base, but was never checked on once. Keep in mind, we were also patients, sharing the same facility.
This went so far, with me and another soldier, that we decided to contact a senator to initiate a bit of awareness. We spoke with aides in D.C., and
even a senator in-person, though I was not present for the personal meeting with the senator. Needless to say, we ruffled a lot of feathers. You see,
the staff personally 'advised' all soldiers and warned them not to contact any representatives from their home state. They didn't like this.
By the time the memos were passed down, that we had talked to a senator, there were already accusations flying about. We were both discharged
immediately after, claiming our health status was sufficient and all treatment completed, even though I had just started appointments at Walter Reed.
Around the same time, myself and the one other I referred to earlier, had befriended a few contacts working with the staff. Some of the underlings,
younger staff that didn't have any stakes in corruption or political ramblings. They sat in on some of the meetings, and relayed to us, that they were
talking of us personally and how we should be discharged or moved away immediately. Especially the other I refer to, since he was older than me, and
had more rank. They quite literally talked about prematurely terminating medical treatment just to get rid of us, and the younger staff would return
to us, and tell us flat-out what was being said.
This is about all I'll say on the matter, as frankly I'm not comfortable saying it, and it's just another story among many.
Again, consider one of the most abhorrent abuse scandals in our country's history, occurred at the leading Army medical facility in the nation's
capital, and you can do the math from there. I wouldn't doubt it if there is full-on, sanctioned abuse in some facilities, VA, active-facilities or
otherwise. As for 'sanctioned termination'.. I don't even know anymore. When you go to some of these facilities, you are almost completely forgotten
to begin with. I'm talking, pushed into a dark corner and left to lie with the rats, forgotten.
edit on 26-5-2011 by SyphonX because: (no
reason given)