Should VA employees be tried as criminals who gamed the system and hurt vets(and their families)?

SGT Craig Northacker — Sun, 01 Jun 2014 21:59:43 -0400

For those in the VA who clearly were egregious in their violations of the law, their oaths of office, and for allowing veterans to suffer unnecessarily (did anyone commit suicide?) - should they be:
a. fired
b. fired and charged with civil violations
c. fired and be tried criminally
d. lose their pension
e. other

What do you think?

Response by MSgt Ediberto L. made Jun 1 at 2014 10:02 PM

MSgt Ediberto L. — Sun, 01 Jun 2014 22:02:14 -0400

Punishment should fit the offense most definately.

Response by SGT Shon D. Hill made Jun 2 at 2014 4:21 AM

SGT Shon D. Hill — Mon, 02 Jun 2014 04:21:41 -0400

B. fired with civil violations, unless death can be directly linked to a person/ppl then criminal

Response by Col Private RallyPoint Member made Jun 2 at 2014 5:48 AM

Col Private RallyPoint Member — Mon, 02 Jun 2014 05:48:42 -0400

C. As a Registered Nurse I am a licensed health care provider and subject to criminal law and loss of licensure for patient neglect, malefecience, and abuse. If there are licensed providers involved in these unthinkable acts against our vets, then they should be held to the standards according to the licensure board!

Response by MSG Private RallyPoint Member made Jun 2 at 2014 3:07 PM

MSG Private RallyPoint Member — Mon, 02 Jun 2014 15:07:21 -0400

I would add one.... All of the above

If they are found liable/culpable they should be fired, loose their pension, and be tried criminally. I would assume that it would be followed up with some sort of civil action.

Response by SGT Craig Northacker made Jul 12 at 2014 11:07 AM

SGT Craig Northacker — Sat, 12 Jul 2014 11:07:30 -0400

Thank you all for your thoughts. I am preparing a paper to submit to Congressional leaders and the President with a legal background addressing the unfortunate problems that still exist in the VA, despite the hard work of the many VA employees who also felt kicked in the stomach.

I will post it after I send it.

Response by BG Robert Enzenauer made Jul 13 at 2014 11:52 AM

BG Robert Enzenauer — Sun, 13 Jul 2014 11:52:22 -0400

Probably ALL of the options are possible depending upon the specific actions of individuals. Purely administrative personnel could be fire, fined, and/or face civil and criminal charges depending upon the consequences. As one of the other respondents mentioned, if the offenders are nurses, doctors, etc. it is possible that they have violated their indivudal organizational code of ethics, and licensure certainly could be effected with censure, admonition, or worse. Robert W. Enzenauer, MD

Response by SPC Joshua Dawson made Jul 30 at 2014 2:25 AM

SPC Joshua Dawson — Wed, 30 Jul 2014 02:25:24 -0400

They should have to face FEDERAL legal ramifications for their actions.

Response by Cpl Private RallyPoint Member made Aug 1 at 2014 3:06 PM

Cpl Private RallyPoint Member — Fri, 01 Aug 2014 15:06:42 -0400

All the above...after all it is The Service members , and Veterans who gave so selfishly of themselves so it would keep these disgraceful people free, you do what you do then the system jerks you around. Then no one is held accountable, that is utter bs , just my opinion.

Response by TSgt David Schlesinger made Aug 3 at 2014 4:15 AM

TSgt David Schlesinger — Sun, 03 Aug 2014 04:15:33 -0400

C. The federal government is not going to prosecute these people. However, for example, in AZ, the state Attorney General should be able to investigate those that gamed the system in the Phoenix VA hospital for fraud or forgery. Since in some circumstances those can be felonies, the guilty parties could be prosecuted for fraud/forgery and murder under the felony murder rule. If this were to happen, it would set a legal precedent (AKA case law) that other courts and jurisdictions would adhere to based on how our legal system works.

Response by PO2 Private RallyPoint Member made Aug 8 at 2014 12:35 AM

PO2 Private RallyPoint Member — Fri, 08 Aug 2014 00:35:18 -0400

I say b, c, and d.

Response by SFC Mark Merino made Aug 8 at 2014 2:11 AM

SFC Mark Merino — Fri, 08 Aug 2014 02:11:58 -0400