This problem is not only seen within the VA system, but also in the civilian sector as well. Throughout the years we have seen doctors� pushing Ritalin, Prozac, vicodin, viagra and many others. They prescribe these with no regard to the patient, only in regard to their own wallet.
The VA feels that if you had some sort of psychological trauma in the past, ALL your medical problems revolve around it. Anti-depressants are forced down your throat without any type of testing. Even the number one rule of checking to make sure that the drug they prescribe does not cause any adverse reactions with any other meds previously prescribed is ignored. When the patient asks questions, they are merely referred by their primary care physician or specialist, to their mental health clinic.
It has been widely reported that veterans have a high rate of depression, anger issues, suicide, alcohol and drug problems. Of course! When a veteran who is normally easy going gets jacked around and smoke blown up their ass at the VA, tends to become depressed and angry. As time goes by and pain medications are not prescribed, they tend to self-medicate.
I personally am in a catch .22 game with the VA medical center. I agree that I have posttraumatic stress disorder, but I do not agree that all my other medical problems are my reaching out for attention! In the past 12 years, diagnoses have been made and rescinded, depending on IF I could receive more compensation for it. It seems to me that rescinding the fact that I may have had a stroke, or that I have spina bifida occulta helps the system. By NOT giving me a proper diagnosis and proper course of medication and painkiller, the VA and US government is saving the American taxpayers money. But in the long run when I have extinguished all legal and moral avenues of help, the American taxpayers may find themselves shelling out MORE money for my drug rehab, alcohol treatment or even housing me in a jail.
How many American taxpayers will be willing to spend THOUSANDS of dollars on me then? Who will be there to pay my rent/mortgage when I can no longer function? How many Americans are going to continually drive by the homeless vets, who stand outside, year-round, begging for handouts because the AMERICAN taxpayers don�t want to be bothered?
I AM a disabled American veteran! As it stands now, the American taxpayers, US government, Veterans Administration, and VA doctors have all reduced me to a depressed low-life that has no business in society! I am disabled because of my military service, and because of that I feel they are responsible for my care.
And to add insult to injury, I have been told that if I want �proper� care, I will have to pay for it all myself. But because I�m disabled, I cannot get medical insurance, nor can I even begin to afford it if it would be offered to me! I cannot work. And now the VA doctors have told me I have to shell out money for my own physical therapy at a health spa! (He suggested Bally�s by name!....Another kickback?) He has also advised me that I should seek alternative medicines without any monetary help of the VA.
If this is how the American taxpayers treat our veterans, I hope to GOD my children NEVER decide to serve them by joining the Armed forces! We veterans are NOT a dirty little secret! WE ARE your neighbors, daughters, brothers, godparents, co-workers and fellow taxpayers!
We all need to start holding the medical community responsible. Kickbacks from pharmaceutical companies hurt us all. How would you like to be drugged up on anti-depressants to the point you are a �Stepford Wife/Husband�? I was a few short years ago. While my husband really enjoyed my being in the �Stepford state�, I awoke from that �stupor� not really remembering the years I had been doped up! But my VA psychiatrist had a brand new expensive sports car! Gee, I wonder if all those drugs he gave me and the VA (read: American taxpayers) paid for, had something to do with his new car?
I'm just another pawn in the politically correct game of "screw the vet and Stepfordize him so he can't make waves"!
