WASHINGTON — In another damning report on the Department of Veterans Affairs, the U.S. Office of Special Counsel on Monday assailed the VA for what investigators said was its unwillingness to acknowledge the “severity of systemic problems” that have put patients at risk.
The special counsel, Carolyn N. Lerner, reported in a letter to President Barack Obama that investigators found a “troubling pattern of deficient patient care,” and expressed concern about what she termed the department’s unwillingness to acknowledge the impact of its problems on patient safety. Her office is now investigating more than 50 cases brought by whistle-blowers.
“The VA, and particularly the VA’s Office of the Medical Inspector, has consistently used a ‘harmless error’ defense, where the department acknowledges problems but claims patient care is unaffected,” she wrote. “This approach has prevented the VA from acknowledging the severity of systemic problems and from taking the necessary steps to provide quality care to veterans.
“As a result, veterans’ health and safety has been unnecessarily put at risk,” she said.