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Government
76-year-old veteran commits suicide in VA parking lot
2016-08-26
[Wash Times] A 76-year-old veteran committed suicide Sunday in the parking lot of New York Veterans Affairs hospital, police said.

Peter A. Kaisen, of Islip, was pronounced dead after he shot himself outside the nursing home at Northport Veterans Affairs Medical Center on Long Island, Suffolk County police told The New York Times.

The reason for Mr. Kaisen’s suicide was not immediately known, but two people connected to the hospital told The Times he was angry after he was allegedly denied care in the emergency room for issues related to his mental health. "He went to the ER and was denied service," a hospital worker told The Times. "And then he went to his car and shot himself."

The staff member said there is always a psychologist on call, and the mental health building is open seven days a week, but no one at the ER gave Mr. Kaisen that information.
Posted by:Besoeker

#9  The American Legion has been fighting these bastard VA people for years. Finally people are paying attention.
Posted by: Neville Bonaparte1146   2016-08-26 15:57  

#8  The VA provides much needed care and valuable benefits to hundreds of thousands of veterans and their families.

They can barely handle the routine stuff. Apparently emergencies are a disaster.
Posted by: gorb   2016-08-26 14:43  

#7  Some Congressmen will also advocate with the VA for the veterans in their district. That was how our newest daughter's mother got a quick response from the VA when she was diagnosed with cancer -- she'd never gone to the VA before that point, so they were reluctant to accept her claim. She died anyway, because she didn't go to the doctor until it had metasticized throughout her body (stage 4?), but they did treat it aggressively until it was clear there was no point.
Posted by: trailing wife   2016-08-26 12:15  

#6  If any of you are vets, use your state veteran's office as an advocate for you. Texas's has been very good for me and they love to sink their teeth into the VA at every hitch.
Posted by: AlmostAnonymous5839   2016-08-26 11:03  

#5  Excellent points TW. It's certainly a complex problem that merits monitoring and investigation.
Posted by: Besoeker   2016-08-26 10:34  

#4  My limited VA experiences, and those of my friends (some of which are rather extensive) have generally been quite positive.

The problem with large programs in general is that they can work well for the vast majority, while being disastrous for the small minority that does not fit into standard categories. When it comes to health care, taking a bit longer to get appointments, evaluations, and not-the-latest treatments isn't really an issue, as long as the patients are greeted cheerfully and are content with the price they pay for it. But for someone with something odd (Agent Orange sufferers, fast moving cancer, suicidal ideation), the delays will be deadly, as we see in this case and the unknown numbers of dead that have piled up over the last decade at least while the problems were actively hidden.
Posted by: trailing wife   2016-08-26 10:19  

#3  Yes Richard, all one has to do is visit a VA Center. The staffing profile and sometimes staff attitudes are not unlike any other unionized Federal agency. My point is, even then, much good work is still being done.

I too can remember when veteran's preference for federal hiring actually meant something, and most of our USPS letter carriers were prior servicemen and women. Federal recruitment has changed, and we all know why.

Press releases for the VA just seem to all be negative. Evidently nothing good can be found. Hence my comments.

Again, my apologies if I have offended anyone. My limited VA experiences, and those of my friends (some of which are rather extensive) have generally been quite positive.
Posted by: Besoeker   2016-08-26 07:45  

#2  B.
His challenge wasn't admission or treatment. His challenge was being unable to stand being sick and tired of being sick and tired any longer.
The VA has 365k unionized, dues-paying employees, hardly any of them veterans. Thus, if they choose to say "eff you" to any complaints....they can.
Posted by: Richard Aubrey   2016-08-26 07:32  

#1  Sad indeed. If anyone is offended by the graphic and black humour, I apologize in advance. Can we not however, put things in proper context. The VA provides much needed care and valuable benefits to hundreds of thousands of veterans and their families. I am grateful for the VA and my fellow Americans who foot the substantial bill for this benefit.

Eating your pistol in the parking lot is NOT a solution to the challenge of admissions or treatment.
Posted by: Besoeker   2016-08-26 06:53  

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