When I first heard about the Washington Post's chilling discoveries in one of the nation's top Veteran's Administration (VA) hospitals, I was sickened, appalled and angry. This is a major story that shows how our system can fail and how people will suffer in the process. This story isn't going away for awhile.
Apparently, the now infamous Building 18 at Walter Reed Medical Center had standards far below normal living conditions. The dry wall is crumbling in the rooms. What walls aren't crumbling are covered in mold. Furthermore, there is a major cockroach and rodent infestation in the facility. The lack of cleanliness isn't the extent of the charges, either. Patients' requests were being ignored. Their rehabilitation needs were not being met, and they were simply not being taken care of. Now the investigations and interrogations will begin in Washington.
The people of this country, for the most part, have had one cry throughout the war on terror, and that is to support the troops. Support our brave men and women at all costs and show them that their sacrifices are being appreciated.
What better way to show somebody that you care about their sacrifices than to fulfill your end of the bargain as much as you can? This is where our government has come up short and where we need the most drastic and immediate change.
It's a fair guess to assume that the vast majority of Ball State students are directly related to veterans, be it through parents or grandparents, or those who are in the military themselves or were in it at some point. This is why we all need to be concerned about the level of care given at hospitals like Walter Reed. We need to be assured that those we love are cared for by the government they served. It is our responsibility as much as it is anyone's.
I have always been very impressed with the VA when it came to their hospitals. This is truly a great country when any person who wore their uniform honorably always has their medical needs taken care of.
This is a fine system, but it has mistakes. These mistakes need to be taken care of as soon as is possible. I was impressed with the swift actions in Washington. Major General George Weightman, the man who was in charge of Walter Reed, immediately admitted his failures and has been fired.
I somewhat expected most of the people in charge to place blame on other people and try to get away without facing the consequences of their actions. The fact that people are taking the blame has been one small bright spot in a very terrible and tragic story.
The government needs to see to it that this kind of failure never happens again. Moreover, a panel needs to be set up to review hospital performance. Perhaps we need to reallocate money so that the VA hospitals are properly funded. Maybe there is enough money but it is not being spent wisely.
Many of the problems found in Walter Reed were solvable simply with a larger workforce. There are 14 VA medical clinics in Indiana, and you can't tell me for a moment that Walter Reed was the only one with issues. We need to rest assured that when and if our loved ones got to the VA, they will get the care they deserve.
I look forward to seeing the government step up to the plate. I think with the public pressure on this story it will get all the attention it deserves.
Our troops serve us well and deserve the very finest care available. It is up to the government to make sure they get it.
Write to Alex atapcarroll@bsu.edu
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