VIP Ward at Walter Reed Gets a Well Deserved Rectal Exam

This is probably the oldest unwritten rule in the military medical establishment. Keep the VIPs happy and the money will flow. For those of us with first hand experience sitting in filthy exam rooms and over crowded, under ventilated waiting rooms, the VIP parking spots at the front door are a constant reminder that there are two standards of care in military medicine.

House investigators are asking "if the allocations of resources is in any way adversely impacting the treatment of the troops," Rep. John Tierney, D-Mass., told USA TODAY in response to inquiries about the six-suite ward. Tierney leads a House subcommittee investigating allegations of poor care at Walter Reed. "Our nation's military, our returning heroes, are the true VIPs," he said.

The large, comfortable suites on the hospital's top floor are reserved for the president, the vice president, federal judges, members of Congress and the Cabinet, high-ranking military officials and even foreign dignitaries and their spouses. The only enlisted members of the military who are eligible to stay there are recipients of the Medal of Honor.

The suites have carpeted floors, antique furniture and fine china in the dining rooms. That's a stark contrast to mold- and mice-ridden housing that some wounded troops had been found to be living in.

Save the argument about the doctors being top drawer. Some are. Many are not. When HH had back surgery, it was Clinton's own surgeon who did the procedure, so I have no complaint. But if HH had come home from Iraq in pieces, this wife would have know better than to think a molding ward was the best Walter Reid could manage.

Unfortunately, statistically speaking, many of the troops coming back are younger. Read: Enlisted with precious little experience navigating the system that in theory exists first and foremost for care of war wounded. A young, scared wife may not have the balls to march into the Flag's office, jump on the desk and call bullshit on the substandard care her husband is receiving in favor of some Senator is getting a mole excised from his ample ass in the relative lap of luxury.

It's certainly nicer surroundings," says retired Army lieutenant general Ronald Blanck, a former Walter Reed commander who was a recent patient in Ward 72 for cataract surgery. "But the care is exactly the same … that is given to every other patient at Walter Reed."

Well, I'm glad to see the former Commander of the facility isn't staying in a moldy room. Out of touch, are we, General Blanck? If the Bush Administration does nothing about this but set up some do nothing Blue Ribbon Circle Jerk, then every Active Duty Military member should damn well go on a day long sit down strike right where they stand. In a ditch in Fallujah, in an officer's mess in Kosovo, at the White House---anywhere, sit down and let the VIPs fight this war.

At least they'll have a primo place to recover when they come back in pieces.

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Also blogging, an injured combat Vet who is a patient at Walter Reed. God Bless @WR.

Comments

[V5]

AMEN, SISTER JANE!!

PREACH IT!

V5

[JANE SAYS: Put your hands in the air>>>>PUSH UP THE ROOF>>>>]

[Miss Carnivorous]

The left feels guilty about slavery, I feel guilty about this. That we on the right who supported the war did not know that this was happening is very disheartening. Of course I have managed care which is nearly as bad as Walter Reed's out patient care. Kaiser Hospital wants to make sure you stay an out patient by using their advice nurses to keep people from entering the hospital. They'd build a moat around the hospital if they could get away with it1