Oversight Committee Report Released: Criminal Activity Abounds in VA System
Widespread criminal activity in the VA system has been charged in a report released Tuesday, June 24, by U.S. Senator Tom Coburn. The investigation was initiated by Senator Coburn over a year ago. The oversight report uncovered rape, drug dealing, theft, and murder. One incident found an egregious abuse by a “VA police chief who conspired to kidnap, rape and murder women, and children”. Another significant case was a male doctor in Kansas who was charged with performing inappropriate breast and pelvic exams on five women patients who came forward. He has since been forced to register as a sex offender.
The report also exposes gross mismanagement; lack of both accountability and transparency. VA doctors and nurses are underperforming compared to the private sector. The VA doctor sees 1,200 patients compared to the private sector primary care physician who sees about 2,300 a year.
It was also discovered that some of the staff are paid not to work; others are not even reporting for work. $20 billion was identified in waste and mismanagement. $845 million was paid out for VA medical malpractice since 2001.
Tom Coburn is the top Republican on the Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs and is considered the most dedicated investigator of government waste and abuse. He is also a physician.
The full oversight report, Friendly Fire: Death, Delay, and Dismay at the VA is available online, along with key findings, and the most grievous VA behaviors via the press release. (Links are at the bottom of the press release.)
Ironically, The Department of Veterans Affairs Motto has been offensively dismissed by the system: “To care for him who shall have borne the battle and for his widow, and his orphan.”–Abraham Lincoln
Dr. Coburn talks “Friendly Fire” with Fox News’ Stuart Varney:
