Vet Care Crisis - Don't Wait for a Second Opinion
Friday, March 9, 2007
Emergency care now, and no need to wait for a second opinion. That's a local view of reports of poor care for veterans at Walter Reed Army Hospital and reports of a system-wide breakdown. Vietnam veteran and peace activist Clinton Pettus with the American Friends Service Committee Middle Atlanta Region says he hopes the veteran care crisis stays on the front burner. He sees it as an opportunity to improve a system that has failed many vets for years.
"The issue here is, we have mistreated folk who put their lives on the line because we told them it was patriotic, and that we need them because we're protecting this country."
Initial reports fault outsourcing of soldier care as part of the problem. Pettus says another factor is the system wasn't beefed up to deal with the influx of Iraq war veterans who need care, but he thinks it still can be done. One bill introduced yesterday would allow some veterans to seek care outside the Veteran's Administration system if they feel their care has been substandard.
Pettus believes supporting our troops should be a life-long commitment for all soldiers and their families.
"Most veterans who honestly look at what happens to them would say that we're not genuine in the notion of supporting our troops."
Idaho Senator Larry Craig introduced the legislation to allow medical care choice for some veterans.
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