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Veteran Dies After VA Refuses Treatment For Days
As the Walter Reed scandal rocks Washington, what are the conditions at VA hospitals outside the Beltway? We look at the story of a 58-year-old Vietnam veteran named Willie Dougherty. He died in October after suffering two pelvic fractures. His family says he died because he was refused treatment by the VA. We speak with his widow, Jean Stentz, American Legion commander Harold Davis and Shay Everitt, the journalism student who first started investigating the story.
The House Appropriations Committee unanimously approved a measure yesterday that bars the closure of Walter Reed Army Medical Center. The center was scheduled to be closed in 2011. Last month the Washington Post published a series of articles exposing the deplorable conditions at the hospital. Since then Army Secretary Francis Harvey, Army Surgeon General Kevin Kiley and Walter Reed's Commanding General Major General George Weightman have all been ousted.
Since Walter Reed is considered the military's premier medical facility, many are now questioning the condition of military and veteran facilities around the country.
Today we look at the story of a 58-year-old Vietnam veteran named Willie Dougherty. He died in October after suffering two pelvic fractures. His family says he died because he was refused treatment. It happened in Texas, yes, President Bush's home state. Willie Dougherty's widow, Jean Stentz joins us in Houston. Also with us is Harold Davis, the commander of the American Legion Post 629 in Camilla Texas and Shay Everitt, the journalism student at Sam Houston State University who first started investigating this story.
* Jean Stentz, her husband, Vietnam veteran Willie G. Dougherty, died in October 2006.
* Harold Davis, commander of the American Legion Post 629 in Camilla.
* Shay Everitt, journalism student at Sam Houston State University. She first started investigating this story.
NOTE: We called the VA Medical Center in Houston to invite them on the program. They declined our invitation. They said they could not discuss any details regarding the case because of privacy and HIPPA laws. The only thing they could verify was that Willie Dougherty was a veteran and that he received treatment. We also called the Livingston Memorial Medical Center, the first hospital Willie was brought to after the injury on September 29th. They said they are a Level 4 trauma center and due to the extent of his injuries they had to transfer him to a Level 2 trauma center. They also said that when they transferred him his vital signs were good and he was in stable condition. We also called the other medical facilities he was transferred to including Christus Hospital and the Green Acres Nursing Home. They didn't return our calls.
LISTEN ONLINE:
http://www.democracynow.org/article.pl?sid=07/03/16/1410250
Since Walter Reed is considered the military's premier medical facility, many are now questioning the condition of military and veteran facilities around the country.
Today we look at the story of a 58-year-old Vietnam veteran named Willie Dougherty. He died in October after suffering two pelvic fractures. His family says he died because he was refused treatment. It happened in Texas, yes, President Bush's home state. Willie Dougherty's widow, Jean Stentz joins us in Houston. Also with us is Harold Davis, the commander of the American Legion Post 629 in Camilla Texas and Shay Everitt, the journalism student at Sam Houston State University who first started investigating this story.
* Jean Stentz, her husband, Vietnam veteran Willie G. Dougherty, died in October 2006.
* Harold Davis, commander of the American Legion Post 629 in Camilla.
* Shay Everitt, journalism student at Sam Houston State University. She first started investigating this story.
NOTE: We called the VA Medical Center in Houston to invite them on the program. They declined our invitation. They said they could not discuss any details regarding the case because of privacy and HIPPA laws. The only thing they could verify was that Willie Dougherty was a veteran and that he received treatment. We also called the Livingston Memorial Medical Center, the first hospital Willie was brought to after the injury on September 29th. They said they are a Level 4 trauma center and due to the extent of his injuries they had to transfer him to a Level 2 trauma center. They also said that when they transferred him his vital signs were good and he was in stable condition. We also called the other medical facilities he was transferred to including Christus Hospital and the Green Acres Nursing Home. They didn't return our calls.
LISTEN ONLINE:
http://www.democracynow.org/article.pl?sid=07/03/16/1410250
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