At tense VA hearing, doctors link delay to patient death

Stars and Stripes ^ | September 17, 2014 | Heath Druzin

[Rabin]

Doctors say deaths, can be linked to delays. A starkly different view than the one painted by VA inspector general’s report. Rep. Jeff Miller, R-Fla., questioning of acting VA IG, Richard Griffin, about whether IG was corruptly influenced by VA officials.... Miller banged his gavel to stop acting shill Griffin's speel. “You want the truth?” Griffin, incredulously.

"As a physician” Katherine Mitchell, I believe the OIG case review systematically overlooked relationships between delays and deaths. Mitchell, joined by VA doctor Samuel Foot. Foot, "VA IG’s office used a criminal activity, as damage control, rather than using it to get to the bottom of major deficiencies in the system. Calling the IG report a foot-dragging, whitewash, designed to minimize the scandal and protect perpetrators. Foote, and VA employees have brought to light a system where patients languished without care, many died. Organized corruption spun out glowing efficiency reports. Congress passed a $17-billion bill enabling the VA to hire more doctors and nurses and "under performing" officials.

[Rabin]

The Phoenix system has become a poster child for VA collusion, after Patty Murray spun-up, Washington State director to Phoenix to help cover the Arizona's VA, "death benefit" data manipulation. Designer die and coercion kill by consent.

"Dead men tell no tails". (LJS)

R.

[Talisker]

The committee has also requested testimony from Sharon Helman, the director of the Phoenix VA Health Care System, who has taken heavy criticism for her role in the scandal, but she did not appear at the hearing.

Isn't that contempt of Congress?

Sounds like a good hearing, anyway.