VA Health Head Grilled Over Suicide Data

After E-Mails Obtained By CBS Show VA Hid Numbers; Now Lawyers And Legislators React

(CBS)  This week, CBS News reported on charges of a cover up of suicide data at the Department of Veterans Affairs. Now, more damaging documents have come out in a lawsuit charging the VA fails to properly care for vets. Chief investigative correspondent Armen Keteyian reports.

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Lawyers suing the VA say the cover-up of suicide data was widespread.

"People within the VA who were withholding this information were not at the bottom of the totem pole," said Veterans Rights Attorney Arturo Gonzalez. "This went all the way up to the top."

Dr. Michael Kussman, the head of VA health care, was grilled in court about a series of e-mails written by top VA officials.

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Read an e-mail, "Re: Not For the CBS News Interview Request"
Read an e-mail to Kussman quoting suicide numbers

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The documents reveal how important information about veteran suicide was concealed from the public - and specifically from CBS News.

In an e-mail from March 10 of this year, a VA media adviser wrote: "I don't want to give CBS any more numbers on veteran suicides or attempts than they already have - it will only lead to more questions."

At the time, CBS News was preparing a report about attempted suicides among veterans under the VA's care.

When pressed about the e-mail, Kussman said he did not "recall" the message. And that he disagreed "with the premise that there was some effort to cover up something."

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Read more on this story by Investigative Producer Pia Malbran.

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Last November, CBS News revealed for the first time an epidemic of suicides among those who have served in the military including more than 6,200 in 2005 alone.

Dr. Ira Katz, the head of Mental Health for the VA, quickly disputed our report.

"Their number is not, in fact, an accurate reflection of the rates," Katz said.

But new e-mails made public in court this week show at the very same time, VA staff believed "there was no flaw in the way they [CBS News] calculated their data" and that the "methodology appears to be correct."

This week Sen. Tom Harkin, D-Iowa, co-sponsored a bill designed to break the silence. It would require the VA provide an annual accounting of veteran suicides and turn that data over to Congress.

[Miltonell]

Veterans Affairs Medical Centers continue the conspiracy to cover up veterans suicides and suicides attempts I am a veteran speaking from a recent experience at one of the VA Medical Centers. To this day they will not log my records correctly regarding suicides attempts.

[quincy1233]

The VA system has among the most devoted and skilled experts caring for our veterans. They should not be confused with the pinheads at the top who are political appointments and reflect the views of this White House whose leadership never fails to disappoint. Fortunately we have oversight by the media and Congress to hold them accountable for their actions. Oh, President Bush, better cover up--your leadership is showing...

[mjvw2]

The VA medical system is an abomination. It should be dropped immediately for national health care for everyone.
Posted by VNdisabled

Brilliant comment. The VA is government health care! This is the best you''ll get with a national health care system.

[dopelgangera]

From the very beginnings of the wars in Afghanistan in late 2001, and in Iraq in 2003, no matter what anyone''s politics were about either or both wars, EVERYONE agreed that "We support our troops." Good. ...Now, isn''t it time for our nation''s government to BEHAVE toward both the soldiers and the veterans, as if we REALLY DO "support our troops"?

[prinzowhales]

I understand the totals for last year were around 12,000.

Aside from the vile treatment our soldiers receive from a contemptible government and uncaring citizenry, our expenditures in blood and treasure do not serve the interests of the American people--they now serve only the interests of the financiers who own Washington lock, stock and barrel.

David Rockefeller admitted it in his autobiography... page 404, if memory serves...saying that he did not always do what was in the best interests of the United States. Though this admission was not necessary for anyone who has studied the malevolent roll of this monster and his family, his foundations, his oil and banking interests and his medical interests...it is a telling one, nonetheless.

Henry Kissinger, his bagman, once said that, "%u201CMilitary men are dumb, stupid animals to be used as pawns for foreign policy.%u201D He is, today, an advisor of the Bush Regime and has worked the poison of Rockefeller policy into the bone and sinew of our Republic for over fifty years.

The enemy of all Americans is on Wall Street and in Washington.

[sear1ngtruth]

"...I even complained to a US Senator''''s office, and even they were unable to do anything about them ...

...I mean it from the bottom of my disabled heart: personnel employed by the VA medical system have been literally GETTING AWAY WITH MURDER for decades, and no one can stop the injustices and malpractice...

...The VA medical system is an abomination. It should be dropped immediately for national health care for everyone....


Posted by VNdisabled at 12:05 PM : Apr 26, 2008"

1. Care to name the senator who you complained to? I know the website to verify complaints received by state for senators to verify your accusation.

2. And most of them are civilian doctors.

3. The VA is run by the government, you complain about the VA, yet you want it replaced by a nationwide system run by the government.

"When people have so thoroughly blinded themselves to reality, they believe themselves to be the only holder of the Truth."
Future of the 8rave
ST

[sear1ngtruth]

"http://webappa.cdc.gov/sasweb/ncipc
/mortrate10_sy.html

For the most recent year the US Government provides data (2005):

Suicides (death)
Firearms 17,002
Suffocation 7,248
Poisoning 5,744
Fall 683
Cut/Pierce 590
Drowning 375
Other Spec 328
Other Spec NEC 228
Unspecified 166
Fire/burn 160
Transportation related 113

Total: 32,637

Suicide Attempts:
Self-harm Poisoning 207,199
Self-harm Cut/Pierce 78,867
Self-harm Other Specified 57,945
Self-harm Struck By/Against 10,294
Self-harm Unknown/Unspecified 5,569

Total Attempts: 359,874

Posted by TheGateway1 at 06:04 AM : Apr 26, 2008"

"Facts, when backed up by data, are the guide to the truth."
Future of the 8rave
ST

[sear1ngtruth]

"Who has been the majority in Congress from 1994 to 2006 ?

Posted by IOWEIGN at 01:57 PM : Apr 26, 2008"


""I disagree with the premise that there was some effort to cover something up," Kussman testified Thursday. "We don''t obfuscate."

Instead, Kussman said, there''s concern about how suicide rates are compiled among the nation''s 26 million veterans.

"It''s been hard to track exactly," said Kussman, who noted that only 5.7 million veterans are under VA care. "



"When Americans refute facts just to support their side of an argument, they weaken only themselves. The rest of us stand strong with facts to guide us."
Future of the 8rave
ST

[ioweign]

Every vet has the option of going to a VA center, if one is available in their area (Congress has been closing military hospitals down at a rate worse than base closures) OR to be seen at a local civilian hospital. The vets who ONLY want to be seen at a VA center either do it because the VA doesn''''t charge them an outrageous co-pay, or they don''''t trust the civilian hospitals.

Posted by TheGateway1 at 06:18 AM : Apr 26, 2008

Who has been the majority in Congress from 1994 to 2006 ?

[ioweign]

Lay the blame on the people (so-called) who write up the budget and vote on spending cuts against the military for all this. Your elected Congressmen!

Posted by TheGateway1 at 06:23 AM : Apr 26, 2008

And who signs off on it...