VA Official Grilled About E-Mails

After CBS News Report, Senators Say Department's Top Mental Health Official Should Go

(CBS)  CBS News Chief Investigative correspondent Armen Keteyian and producer Pia Malbran wrote this story for CBSNews.com.

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The Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) deputy chief, Gordon Mansfield, was questioned Wednesday by members of congress in Washington about allegations that the VA tried to cover up the true risk of suicide among veterans.

“I am very angry and upset,” said Sen. Patty Murray, D-Wash., during a Senate hearing on veterans issues. Murray asked Mansfield how the public should trust the VA when "every time we turn around we find out that what you're saying publicly is different from what you're saying privately?”

Internal e-mails made public this week as part of a lawsuit in San Francisco federal court show what appears to be the deliberate attempt by top VA officials to conceal the number of suicides and attempted suicides by veterans.

In one email message titled “Not for the CBS News…,” the VA’s head of mental health Dr. Ira Katz wrote "Shh!" and then claimed there were 1,000 suicide attempts per month by veterans under the care of the agency. The e-mail was written last February when CBS News was questioning the VA about the number of veterans who have tried to kill themselves.

After a public records request, the VA provided CBS News with data that showed there were a total of 790 attempted suicides by VA patients in the entire year of 2007. This number was nowhere near what Katz was saying privately in his email.

In response to Murray, Mansfield said “I share your concern and I apologize for the fact that I have to apologize again.” He then said he would not characterize the e-mail as “keeping information from this Congress.” After listening to Murray, Mansfield called it “unfortunate” and said the e-mail “does not bode well” or “send the right message.”

Outside the hearing room, Murray said it was time for Katz “to go.” When asked about Katz’s future by CBS News Chief Investigative Correspondent Armen Keteyian, Mansfield would not respond. He said, “I am not prepared to discuss the issue. I don’t have all the facts.”

Meanwhile another senator, Tom Harkin, D-Iowa, introduced a bill Tuesday mandating the VA to provide Congress with an annual accounting of suicide both in and out of the VA system. Harkin told CBS News “whoever is involved in covering up and not giving [Congress] a clear picture of how many veterans are out there attempted and committing suicide… [should] lose their job.”

Katz was not at the Senate hearing Wednesday and the VA has not commented on his future at the agency.

But a source tells CBS News Katz's days as the head of mental health at the VA may well be numbered.

[marshall1040]

You will V.A. have to wake for years to get help from the VA.,an then you will get 10 per cent for a claim.

[bsimon2007]

His days "may be numbered"? I should hope so, at the very least.

[oomarty]

I think i mentioned Rebublican greed.

Forgot Democratic apathy. and don''t get in the way of the Greedy Republicans or they will expose us for allowing them to do what they get away with.

The Working class needs a Labor party.....

[antoniof123]

But a source tells CBS News Katz''s days as the head of mental health at the VA may well be numbered.

Ya Think. LOL another Bushbot biting the dust. At this rate we won''t have any neo cons left in the government.

[bobnjersey]

[Don''''t forget people. The VA is GOVERNMENT HEALTH CARE. This is what many of you seem to want.]
[Posted by mjvw2 at 08:53 AM : Apr 24, 2008]

this is complete incomepentence and malfeasance from public officials ... who should be escorted from the building the minute their actions (like these) are exposed.

what''s desired is a universal plan that doesn''t lock you into an employer for the coverage ... and doesn''t have premiums raising 20% a year w/ decreasing benefits. the group is 300 million americans ... not 20 people from 150k companies.

[bobnjersey]

[Push your congressman for more funding for our military.]
[Posted by aldon61 at 10:27 AM : Apr 24, 2008]

they have enough of a piece of the whole pie. let them find some ridiculous weapons program to drop ... and use the money from that to help the veterans w/ health issues.

missile defense ($15.9b), osprey ($2.6b), f22 ($4.6b), stealth destroyer ($3b), viginia class sub ($2.5b), to name a few.

[oomarty]

Government health care is also what John Mc Cain and President George Bush have had for most of their lives. John Mc Cain is still Healthy Physically and able to run for President when other would be forced to retire out of fears of senility

Republicans have refuse to take care of the basic needs of poor children. Yet without a second thought send them off to die in a war where profit appears to be the real motive.

If Republicans ran the health care it would be just like they way the have run the rest of our Government

Justice Department. How can we use Justice as a weapon to hurt others to benefit ourselves and keep the Republican majority since the people wont and didn''t vote for Republicans or our current President. With greed and a smile.

State Department Bow and be subservient to what we wont to benefit our greed or we will lock you up and not even your family will now where you are. Or better yet destroy your country and kill your citizens.

FEMA you got a flood in Colorado well air lift your cattle out no problem Mr, infulencial land barron. New Orleans Flood what flood some body do a fly over to make sure their not lying. Heres a trailer if you live in you''ll also need health care and my buddy here will sell you a policy

We the people pay for the best health care in the world. Only problem its only offered to politicians and government employees. But not to the families who are taxed the hardest.

[mjvw2]

Don''t forget people. The VA is GOVERNMENT HEALTH CARE. This is what many of you seem to want.

[zentek3]

I agree with sometime3, VA is good and bad. But don''t judge unless you been there and done that. I''m 75, the VA has gone down for 50 years. Underfunded by Repub and Dem politicians alike. Why? Vast majority with no service experience? VA Med Budget 08 is only $36.6 Billion and way short. Pols now voting on 09 for $38.7B so a tiny increase of $2.1B. Chump change. VA terribly underfunded and the lower level staff who
deal with us are underpaid and overworked and suffer because they want to help and heal and can''t. War is crazy and costly and survival is based on luck. There is a luck factor in being well served by a VA Hosp and they are costly to operate but it''s beyond crazy to go cheap on the staff and patients. It''s insane and cruel. Why does this nightmare continue? I don''t know. Do you? I just know I''ve been lucky beyond
belief in war and VA support. Too bad we aren''t all lucky. About $25B would help. Petty cash at the DofD and Pentagon. I served with heroes and now I''m an old coward because I went to Google, read about the VA and it almost scared me to death. I''m not afraid for me. I''m paralyzed by fear for my young brothers and sisters now serving. If you''ve done military time you know what FUBAR means. I''m gonna dig a hole and hide butI wish everyone good luck in dealing with the crisis.
War is hell. Peace ain''t a whole lot better.tnx,John

[Skysblue]

Mansfield SHOULD GO too. He is responsible.

[ncrla]

I am fed up with high level decision making people (usually politically appointed) that never have to really pay for their pooor decisions, even when the spotlight is on them, no matter how much harm they have done while in their positions of trust.

[ncrla]

I am Vietnam veteran. I have serious problems with the federal government and its high level career employees. Most of the problems are with upper level, game playing manangement, NOT with the real workers (mostly GS11 and below).
Every VA hospital is somewhat different from the others - due to facilties, mgmt philosophy, or staffing levels and experience. Overall the VA was a big mess. Some of that has improved in the past few years but only due to public and congressional pressure. (I have little use for Congress overall). A lot of things still need to be changed. PLEASE don''t categorically lump ALL VA employees into the p-ss poor group. The system works because of many good dedicated employees, in spite of the system. My local VA has some lousy doctors, some that may be good but it''s hard to understand their accent, and some that go in early or stay late to call a recently treated vet at home. My local VA hospital has some surly employees that should be fired but can''t be for several reasons. I have been helped by some wonderful employees that go out of their way to be helpful. As in any large business, there are good and bad employees.
PLEASE limit your comments about the VA to your experience (not what you heard or read or just want to think). The VA has some excellent people that are trying real hard.

[hotpaulie]

John McCain try to redeem yourself somewhat by speaking out on this!

[nbubbad56]

cav-O3 Read research and retort?LEGISLATION TO ASSIST SERVICEMEMBERS, VETERANS, GUARDSMEN AND RESERVISTS WITH INCREASED EDUCATION BENEFITS/SENATOR McCAIN STATEMENT ON PASSAGE OF WOUNDED WARRIOR ACT AND PAY RAISE FOR TROOPSJuly 25, 2007/SENATOR MCCAIN ADDRESS TROOPS IN IRAQ/2. S.32 : A bill to reform the acquisition process of the Department of Defense, and for other purposes.Sponsor: Sen McCain, John/14. S.663 : A bill to amend title 10, United States Code, to repeal the statutory designation of beneficiaries of the $100,000 death gratuity under section 1477 of title 10, United States Code, and to permit members of the Armed Forces to designate in writing their beneficiaries of choice in the event of their death while serving on active duty. That is just 2 minutes of "foxhole digging
And I myself did more than 10 years in the CAV/Enlisted not f-ing Officer

[kansas1946]

Well, maybe we can get rid of another crooked Bush administration official. Bush created a culture of lies and it just "trickles down."

[andrew_693]

790 attempted suicides? 1000 attempted suicides?
there is little difference according to the republicons, you see, "under no child left behind" the number 790 is the same as 1000 or 3000 or 20,000 like we will find out later on when they investigate that al quaeda jesus runned facility. This administration already buried more than 4000 mistakes from this war, I have a feeling we will be burying another 1000 more this coming year, if we don''t find out later that actually we lost more than they are telling us. Shhhhhh, don''t let the american people know the truth.

[donevis-2009]

The scary thing about this situation is who ordered Katz to Lie? Either that or our government managers bend their facts to hold their Jobs. And/or are they being instructed what to say after reporting the actual facts to their bosses. It seems our government infarstructure is based on lies and commissions.
Look now who its hurting the most. Us, the children of the 60''s who protested and fought in the Viet-Nam "thing", are now seeing our own children treated like dirt. After huge family sacrafices. Our sons and daughters and their children. The one who''s Moms or Dads don''t come home. Imagine having to be the child that finds your parent dead, in a car, with a vacuum cleaner hose from the exhaust pipe to the window. VA rights have dropped to their lowest point because the government has been turning its head. When confronted with facts and questions they form committee to "look into the matter". We still haven''t heard anything about Walter Reed hospital conditions since the last flair up. Its time to give the same amount of power to an Ethics Committee as the Homeland Security has.

Never mind, the administration would just get to them as well. There''s just not enough ethics to be found in our government anymore. "God Speed USA"

[specter878]

From what I am reading in these comments, most of you have no idea what you are talking about. I am a Vietnam Vet who has developed diabetes from exposure to agent orange, ptsd from the effects of combat and attacks by the viet cong. I have been seeing VA doctors for some years now and I have never had any problem of any kind. The personnel I have delt with have always treated me with kindness and support. So get off your high horses. There may be some bad apples in the tub, but don''t class all of them together.

[cyberus-2009]

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Oh yea. how come Katz is being allowed to lie his way out of scrutiny AGAIN. I still don''''t see McCain at the plate, why is that, why isn''''t he calling for a resignation.???

Posted by cav_03
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Maybe because if McCain did that he would be subjecting an appointee of his own party to a negative investigation ... and when the manure hits the fan anyone in the area is liable to get splattered .. like himself.

[susanh6]

The core of the problem is in the active recruitment of people who are mentally ill. I personally know two young men who were ruthlesslessly pursued by recruiters--one with major depression and one with a bipolar disorder severe enough to require large does of six psychiatric medicines. The Marine recruiter told this second man that all he had to do was go off his meds and he would be eligible. The individual did just that--went off his meds. He got arrested for assault--his promising carpentry career is ruined and he is a complete basket case. He also jumped or fell off a balcony twenty five feet and was seriously injured. Many who actually get into the service are able to hold it together until the stress gets to them and they try suicide or harm others. The actions of these recruiters who exploit the fantasies of the vulnerable mentally ill are criminal.