TRIGGER WARNING: Military Psychology

New Rules at VA Effect Treatment and Hiring of Patients and Staff Based Upon Political and Marital Affiliations

New Rules at VA Effect Treatment and Hiring of Patients and Staff Based Upon Political and Marital Affiliations

Please note this not "only" effects patients -- staff can be discriminated against (or fired?) for #nationalorigin , #sexualorientation , #maritalstatus, membership in a #union and/or lawful political party affiliation.

Hashtags in quotes below added by me to the quotes.

-- Michael

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

TITLE: ‘Extremely disturbing and unethical’: new rules allow VA doctors to refuse to treat Democrats, unmarried veterans
URL: https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2025/jun/16/va-doctors-refuse-treat-patients

"Doctors at Department of #Veterans Affairs ( #VA ) hospitals nationwide could refuse to treat unmarried veterans and Democrats under new hospital guidelines imposed following an executive order by Donald Trump."

"The new rules, obtained by the Guardian, also apply to #psychologists, dentists and a host of other occupations. They have already gone into effect in at least some VA medical centers."

"Medical staff are still required to treat veterans regardless of race, color, religion and sex, and all veterans remain entitled to treatment. But individual workers are now free to decline to care for patients based on personal characteristics not explicitly prohibited by federal law."

"Language requiring healthcare professionals to care for veterans regardless of their politics and marital status has been explicitly eliminated."

...

"They 'seem to open the door to #discrimination on the basis of anything that is not legally protected', said Dr Kenneth Kizer, the VA’s top healthcare official during the Clinton administration. He said the changes open up the possibility that doctors could refuse to treat veterans based on their “reason for seeking care – including allegations of #rape and #sexualassault – current or past political #partyaffiliation or #politicalactivity, and personal 'behavior such as alcohol or marijuana use'."

...

"Similarly, the bylaw on 'decisions regarding medical staff membership' no longer forbids VA hospitals from discriminating against candidates for staff positions based on national origin, sexual orientation, marital status, membership in a labor organization or 'lawful political party affiliation'."

TITLE: ‘Extremely disturbing and unethical’: new rules allow VA doctors to refuse to treat Democrats, unmarried veteransURL: https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2025/jun/16/va-doctors-refuse-treat-patients

-- Human Operator Michael

--------------------------------------
Private, vetted email list for mental health professionals: https://www.clinicians-exchange.org

NYU Information for Practice puts out 400-500 good quality health-related research posts per week but its too much for many people, so that bot is limited to just subscribers. You can read it or subscribe at @PsychResearchBot

Since 1991 The National Psychologist has focused on keeping practicing psychologists current with news, information and items of interest. Check them out for more free articles, resources, and subscription information: https://www.nationalpsychologist.com

EMAIL DAILY DIGEST OF RSS FEEDS -- SUBSCRIBE:
http://subscribe-article-digests.clinicians-exchange.org

READ ONLINE: http://read-the-rss-mega-archive.clinicians-exchange.org
It's primitive... but it works... mostly...

#psychology #counseling #socialwork #psychotherapy @psychotherapist @psychotherapists @psychology @socialpsych @socialwork @psychiatry #mentalhealth #psychiatry #healthcare #depression #psychotherapist #military #militarypsych #militarypsychology #militarycounseling #APA #Division19 #militaryhealth #DeploymentPsychology #UniformServicesUniversity

Mitt Romney says he doesn't "have a home" in the Republican Party

https://www.cbsnews.com/news/mitt-romney-says-he-doesnt-have-a-home-in-the-republican-party/

#MittRomney #RepublicanParty #PoliticalHome #PartyAffiliation #GOP #PoliticalIdentity #Politics #News

House votes down measure to expel George Santos

https://www.axios.com/2023/05/17/house-vote-expel-george-santos

#AxiosNews #HouseVote #GeorgeSantos #ExpulsionAttempt #CongressionalPolitics #PartyAffiliation #Politics #News