Do you think this country will ever get its mental health priorities in the right place?

SPC Jan Allbright, M.Sc., R.S. — Mon, 21 Sep 2015 08:54:40 -0400

Ex-Marine Run Over in Front of Phoenix Veterans Hospital Suing VA for $15 Million
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A mentally-ill, former marine sniper is suing the Veterans Administration and the Carl Hayden VA Medical Center for $15 million after getting run over two years ago following his discharge from the facility.

Jason Cooper, 41, a California man who served in the Marine Corps for 11 years before his honorable discharge in 2002, still suffers from traumatic injuries received in the collision, his lawyer tells New Times. A skull fracture left his brain injured, reducing his ability to speak. He can walk only with the assistance of a cane.

His story reflects not only the bad state of affairs at the Carl Hayden facility and at the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs before serious problems were exposed last year by CNN but also the challenges or providing long-term care for schizophrenic patients.
Several key people have come to Cooper's aid over the years as he's struggled with his mental illness, despite the fact that he occasionally turns violent. But his luck ran out when he was brought to the Phoenix VA hospital.

Three years ago, Cooper made national news after an Oregon State Police Trooper — and fellow marine vet — saved the disoriented man from freezing to death in a snowy Oregon forest. But Cooper continued to battle his inner demons, failing to take his medications regularly and living homeless in Southern California.
A year later, on November 29, 2013, Cooper boarded a bus in San Diego bound from Phoenix "while in a psychotic state," according to the federal complaint. He didn't know anyone in the Phoenix area and was found by a Phoenix police officer at 8:30 p.m. that evening wandering around near 25th Street and Edgemont in an obviously confused manner.
Cooper had been listed as a missing person, and the officer called Thumbelina Hinshaw, a VA psychiatric nurse who acted as Cooper's caregiver. She told him to take Cooper to the nearest VA facility. Officers escorted Cooper in handcuffs into the Carl Hayden center at 7th Street and Indian School Road.

Hinshaw then contacted officials at the facility and told them not to discharge Cooper because he was a danger to himself and might "get run over by a car," says a notice of claim filed against the VA in December. She told them she'd leave for Phoenix immediately to pick up Cooper.

At 11:09 p.m., the VA hospital "discharged Mr. Cooper to the street," records state.
Cooper was found six hours later in the middle of Indian School Road, just west of 7th Street, "unconscious and near death, lying in a fetal position in the middle of the street with tire marks over his body in a puddle of blood..."
The hit-and-run driver never was found or identified.

Cooper was taken to St. Joseph's Hospital and Medical Center in Phoenix, where he was diagnosed with multiple skull and face fractures, a shattered leg, and worst of all, a brain injury that left him with serious cognitive and speech impairments, records state.

Hinshaw, as Cooper's legal conservator, is working on the lawsuit with Phoenix attorney Gregory Patton.

The notice of claim says Cooper needs a full-time attendant, rehabilitation and other medical care for the rest of his life, which would cost about $6 million. For his pain, disfigurement, and loss of enjoyment of life, Patton is asking for an additional $9 million.

The VA denied the claim in June. The medical-negligence lawsuit was filed in federal court on Wednesday, alleging that the VA failed to provide Cooper with proper care and negligently discharged him.

Patton says the treatment of Cooper was egregious for several reasons, including that the VA facility's own computer records showed Cooper had been treated by the VA for mental illness for years. Even without that, he says, the staff should have realized that Cooper was in no shape to be "dumped" in the middle of the night with no help.

The incident occurred months before the scandal of poor care and excessive, sometimes fatal wait times at VA facilities hit the news and sparked some reform. An ER physician at the Carl Hayden facility in 2013 testified before Congress last year, Patton says, that "it was total chaos in the emergency room" because of under-staffing and that "patients were many times not evaluated properly and discharged."

Cooper received "numerous" medals and awards for his time in the service and worked in a sniper platoon in Okinawa, Japan, for four years, records state. He was admitted to the psychiatric ward of the VA hospital in La Jolla, California, in 2009, where he lived for several months. He was monitored by and received medication from the Loma Linda VA over the following years. But he had problems with taking his medications regularly, records state.

One afternoon in 2012, Cooper fled his vehicle after a non-injury highway crash. He'd been seen acting strangely, according to witnesses, and had dashed into the woods wearing only a light jacket, shorts, and sandals. Two officers, including ex-marine Dave Randall, followed tracks in the snow for a mile until it got dark, then patrolled the area until midnight to see if he'd emerge. Police were able to contact his sister, who told them the former staff sergeant suffered from post-traumatic-stress disorder and panic attacks and that the former sniper "was very dangerous due to his training and ongoing instability," according to an April 2012 article in Trooper News, a publication of the Oregon State Police Officers Association. "Additionally, he had a history of police assaults and could be armed."

Randall and another officer took off on snowmobiles the next day, riding five miles before finding the vet lying on the cold ground. As reported on TV news at the time, Randall called out to Cooper: "Hey Staff Sergeant, how's it going?" He then told the shivering vet that "one marine always knows another marine."

Jean Schaefer, spokeswoman for the Phoenix VA facility, says the agency's policy is to deny comment about specific, pending legal matters.

"I can say we've made a number of improvements to the care we deliver in our emergency department, Schaefer says, "including better tools for our nurses to triage patients, a more robust social-work staff," and additional training for ER nurses.

Importantly, the ER at Carl Hayden is undergoing major renovation that will double its size, she says. That project is expected to be finished next year.

http://www.phoenixnewtimes.com/news/ex-marine-run-over-in-front-of-phoenix-veterans-hospital-suing-va-for-15-million-7670820

Ex-Marine Run Over in Front of Phoenix Veterans Hospital Suing VA for $15 Million

A former marine sniper who suffers from mental illness is suing for $15 million after being run over in front of the Carl Hayden VA Medical Center two years ago following his discharge fr om the facility. Jason Cooper, 41, a California man who served in the Marine Corps for...

Response by SGT Scott Bell made Sep 21 at 2015 8:59 AM

SGT Scott Bell — Mon, 21 Sep 2015 08:59:26 -0400

I hope so

Response by SCPO David Lockwood made Sep 21 at 2015 9:25 AM

SCPO David Lockwood — Mon, 21 Sep 2015 09:25:16 -0400

As long as we take care other countries problems this country will continue to ignore it's own problems. It's sad when we eagerly help other countries because we worry of what others may think of us.

Response by 1SG Private RallyPoint Member made Sep 21 at 2015 9:27 AM

1SG Private RallyPoint Member — Mon, 21 Sep 2015 09:27:18 -0400

Damn these stories piss me off! I'm not sure when they will get it right, but the need to do it soon!

Response by SSgt Alex Robinson made Sep 21 at 2015 9:35 AM

SSgt Alex Robinson — Mon, 21 Sep 2015 09:35:15 -0400

We better. It's a huge public health concern

Response by MAJ Private RallyPoint Member made Sep 21 at 2015 11:06 AM

MAJ Private RallyPoint Member — Mon, 21 Sep 2015 11:06:02 -0400

Have we? Obviously not.

Will we? We don't have a choice.

Mental Health issues in America are the root of a lot of our other problems including gun violence, employment, etc.

If we continue to ignore Mental Health instead of making it the primary focus behind fixing other issues, we are doomed to fail as a nation and as a society.

Response by LCDR Rabbah Rona Matlow made Sep 21 at 2015 11:31 AM

LCDR Rabbah Rona Matlow — Mon, 21 Sep 2015 11:31:46 -0400

Not as long as CONgress is broken and so bought and paid for by the lobbies...

Response by MSG Brad Sand made Sep 21 at 2015 11:54 AM

MSG Brad Sand — Mon, 21 Sep 2015 11:54:35 -0400

No.

My only question in this whole story, who is really pushing the law suit? It is not Jason Cooper and regardless of the outcome he is not going to get the money, and probably not the treatment he needs?

Response by CPT Jack Durish made Sep 21 at 2015 12:34 PM

CPT Jack Durish — Mon, 21 Sep 2015 12:34:44 -0400

The practitioners of mental health are an odd mixture of scientists and artists. There is little exactitude. Their predictions are about as accurate as weather forecasters. However, whereas weather forecasters have the humility to couch their predictions with percentages, psychologists and psychiatrists always exude confidence (before they fail). Thus, it is hard to fault a bureaucracy for their failures, isn't it? At least we've moved beyond Bedlam and some of the more archaic forms of torture long associated with treatment of mental health problems. I guess my opinion is that this is one area in which I'm prepared to cut the bureaucrats at the VA a little slack. Ultimately, I'd still rather to get them entirely out of the game and allow veterans to take their chances in the same treatment facilities as the general public enjoy, financed by health insurance provided by the government in severance packages from the military.

Response by SSgt Terry P. made Sep 21 at 2015 6:27 PM

SSgt Terry P. — Mon, 21 Sep 2015 18:27:05 -0400

Nothing to say,it has been said--Shameful.

Response by SGT Private RallyPoint Member made Sep 21 at 2015 6:28 PM

SGT Private RallyPoint Member — Mon, 21 Sep 2015 18:28:05 -0400

Makes me sick and mad as hell.

Response by LTC Stephen F. made Sep 21 at 2015 6:39 PM

LTC Stephen F. — Mon, 21 Sep 2015 18:39:59 -0400

When I saw the discussion title I thought it was a metaphor because I could not believe that it could be a literal account of the treatment of a veteran COL Mikel J. Burroughs.
I hope whoever was responsible for the treatment Jason Cooper is held accountable for this.

Response by CW4 Private RallyPoint Member made Sep 21 at 2015 6:50 PM

CW4 Private RallyPoint Member — Mon, 21 Sep 2015 18:50:43 -0400

Wow Sir, this is crazy. Terrible story to read. Thanks for sharing [~138758:COL Mikel Burroughs, stories like this need to get out.

Response by MAJ Ken Landgren made Sep 21 at 2015 6:57 PM

MAJ Ken Landgren — Mon, 21 Sep 2015 18:57:07 -0400

Everyone who is in a life of pain and darkness needs to have a save haven to feel safe and receive the requisite help.

Response by CW4 Private RallyPoint Member made Sep 21 at 2015 7:24 PM

CW4 Private RallyPoint Member — Mon, 21 Sep 2015 19:24:08 -0400

SPC Jan Allbright, M.Sc., R.S., short answer is yes, the hard answer is I don't know how long it will take. What is sufficient enough?

Response by SPC David S. made Sep 21 at 2015 8:34 PM

SPC David S. — Mon, 21 Sep 2015 20:34:05 -0400

This is why I am an advocate for mental health for our service members. Much has to due with the way the mental health system is set up. To get admitted in the midst of a psychotic episode and then be released 2 hours later should be criminal.

Response by LCDR Rabbah Rona Matlow made Sep 21 at 2015 9:06 PM

LCDR Rabbah Rona Matlow — Mon, 21 Sep 2015 21:06:45 -0400

Unreal...

Response by SSG Warren Swan made Sep 22 at 2015 10:10 AM

SSG Warren Swan — Tue, 22 Sep 2015 10:10:41 -0400

While this IS a VA problem, the suit should identify those PERSONALLY responsible for allowing him to be released, and hold them accountable. Can anyone please tell me why this Phoenix VA is always in the news beyond it being FUBARD? I know what the news say's but I'm wondering if anyone has been there and can give better information.

Response by SGT Roberto Mendoza-Diaz made Sep 22 at 2015 10:14 AM

SGT Roberto Mendoza-Diaz — Tue, 22 Sep 2015 10:14:01 -0400

15 millions are not enough. The VA needs to clean up their act.

Response by TSgt Anthony Ellis made Nov 10 at 2015 6:53 PM

TSgt Anthony Ellis — Tue, 10 Nov 2015 18:53:33 -0500

I really hope so because there are so many veterans suffering PTSD and other mental illness. We as veterans need not to suffer in silence get the help that you need many agencies offer help.

Response by PO2 Peter Klein made Nov 10 at 2015 7:34 PM

PO2 Peter Klein — Tue, 10 Nov 2015 19:34:15 -0500

First, the Phoenix VA needs to be cleaned out, if it hasn't been since this gross misconduct.
Second, do not paint all VA facilities with the Phoenix brush. I have continued to get excellent care at VA San Diego.
Third, mental health is a national problem, not just for vets. I think we have gone too far in "protecting' the rights of the mentally ill. We cannot go back to "One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest" treatment but there has to be a good middle ground.

Response by SMSgt Bob Wilson made Nov 8 at 2020 12:26 AM

SMSgt Bob Wilson — Sun, 08 Nov 2020 00:26:25 -0500

The Congress has written to many "feel good" laws which restricts IDing people needing help. HIPAA being one. We need interaction from local governments to ensure hospitals mental health professionals available at hospitals. I live close to a major metropolitan city and trying to get help for people is horrible--some people stay in the ER for up to 2 days before being transferred to a medical facility for help. A lot of Drug Users take the beds needed for true mentally-ill people. Medication is another issue with the meds having adverse reaction that reduce the abilities of the individual to function as a human being. With the proper meds, many of the people can function as any other American.