Veterans' Administration Hospitals And Mental Health.
VA and mental health
Support the troops?
It's way past time for that, said a scathing majority opinion issued earlier this month by the 9th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals, which opened with these lines:
“On an average day, 18 veterans of our nation's armed forces take their own lives. Of those, roughly one-quarter are enrolled with the Department of Veterans Affairs health care system. Among all veterans enrolled in the VA system, an additional 1,000 attempt suicide each month. Although the VA is obligated to provide veterans mental health services, many veterans with severe depression or post-traumatic stress disorder are forced to wait weeks for mental health referrals and are given no opportunity to request or demonstrate their need for expedited care. For those who commit suicide in the interim, care does not come soon enough. …”
The judges' verdict: The VA needs to get its act together now, and the court ordered a major overhaul of the VA's mental health system.
The ruling grew out of a suit filed four years ago by Veterans for Common Sense and Veterans United for Truth Inc. against the VA. A district judge denied their claims, and they appealed. In the meantime, the appeals court tried to force the government to work with the groups in coming up with solutions, but those talks stalled and two of three 9th Circuit judges sided with the veterans' groups that sought remedy through the court.
“There comes a time when the political branches have so completely and chronically failed to respect the people's constitutional rights that the courts must be willing to enforce them. We have reached that unfortunate point with respect to veterans who are suffering from the hidden, or not hidden, wounds of war,” wrote Judge Stephen Reinhardt, who was joined by Judge Procter Hug Jr.
A spokesman for the Justice Department said it was reviewing the ruling and had no immediate comment.
The Obama administration has done a lot of talking about the sacrifices of veterans, as well as their families. It must not allow this disgraceful treatment of veterans to continue on its watch. It should obey the ruling, and help the veterans.
Support the troops?
It's way past time for that, said a scathing majority opinion issued earlier this month by the 9th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals, which opened with these lines:
“On an average day, 18 veterans of our nation's armed forces take their own lives. Of those, roughly one-quarter are enrolled with the Department of Veterans Affairs health care system. Among all veterans enrolled in the VA system, an additional 1,000 attempt suicide each month. Although the VA is obligated to provide veterans mental health services, many veterans with severe depression or post-traumatic stress disorder are forced to wait weeks for mental health referrals and are given no opportunity to request or demonstrate their need for expedited care. For those who commit suicide in the interim, care does not come soon enough. …”
The judges' verdict: The VA needs to get its act together now, and the court ordered a major overhaul of the VA's mental health system.
The ruling grew out of a suit filed four years ago by Veterans for Common Sense and Veterans United for Truth Inc. against the VA. A district judge denied their claims, and they appealed. In the meantime, the appeals court tried to force the government to work with the groups in coming up with solutions, but those talks stalled and two of three 9th Circuit judges sided with the veterans' groups that sought remedy through the court.
“There comes a time when the political branches have so completely and chronically failed to respect the people's constitutional rights that the courts must be willing to enforce them. We have reached that unfortunate point with respect to veterans who are suffering from the hidden, or not hidden, wounds of war,” wrote Judge Stephen Reinhardt, who was joined by Judge Procter Hug Jr.
A spokesman for the Justice Department said it was reviewing the ruling and had no immediate comment.
The Obama administration has done a lot of talking about the sacrifices of veterans, as well as their families. It must not allow this disgraceful treatment of veterans to continue on its watch. It should obey the ruling, and help the veterans.
Labels: General information
posted by KYJurisDoctor at 6:46 PM
10 Comments:
There comes a time when the political branches have so completely and chronically failed to respect the people's constitutional rights that the courts must be willing to enforce them. Therefore people need to act upon these rules.
The US Department of Veterans Affairs provides patient care and federal benefits to veterans and their dependents.
Veterans provides good medical and health service...
Military veterans often receive special treatment in their respective countries due to the sacrifices they made during wars. Veterans are also subject to illnesses directly related to their military service such as PTSD.
Browse veteran's benefits such as federal and state benefits and special membership discounts and deals in travel and entertainment, home and office, health
Very few posts contain relevant information such as yours.
The Office of Mental Health Services internet site is intended to serve Veterans, their family members, mental health clinicians, VA staff, affiliated mental health associations and the community.
Though the VA Hospital is located in Iron Mountain, a van is available for veterans to take if they need something the clinic cannot provide.
The Office of Mental Health Services internet site is intended to serve Veterans, their family members, mental health clinicians, VA staff, affiliated mental health associations and the community.
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