The VA, Gov't health care, & why I am not enthused

[GoldenCityMuse]

About the whole idea.

These stories are from the ABQ Journal.

According to a former colleague, Schlicht used fraudulent credentials to operate on patients even though he wasn’t a surgeon and injected Plexiglas-like cement into patients’ spines in a procedure that turned out to be neither safe nor effective.

ABQJournal Online » ‘Untouchable’ Doc at Center of Malpractice Storm.

The Veterans Affairs hospital in Albuquerque says it has launched a “comprehensive review” of cases handled by a physician accused of injecting patients with liquid plexiglass as a novel treatment for back pain.

The announcement came just days after the Journal reported Dr. Christian R. Schlicht, who once worked at the VA, is a defendant in 47 personal injury lawsuits filed by former patients at an Alamogordo hospital, which is now seeking bankruptcy protection because of the legal claims.

The VA isn’t named as a defendant in those cases, but court records show Schlicht claimed to have “invented” the plexiglass disc restoration treatment in 2004, while he worked at the Albuquerque VA hospital.

ABQJournal Online » Veterans Affairs Reviewing Spine Doctor’s Cases

Ex-Fighter Pilot Laments Spine Surgery

Editorial: End VA Stonewalling Over Back Treatment

$33 Million Settlement in Spine Cases

[Old Vet]

I used the VA now and private hospitals before and can't tell much difference except the DR in the VA are young so I called them baby DR. Most of them are students or even residents on rare occasions I have seen a older MD that worked for the VA some times. Private hospitals have some bad people worked for them also.

[Belfrybat]

I agree with what Old Vet said. Both good and bad doctors (and nurses) in both public and private venues. But from what I've seens, they are found out quicker in places like the VA since there is more supervision.

But, if you are concerned about VA healthcare don't use it. Nothing stopping you from paying for private care. And it frees up a spot for people who need VA care.

[Tiempo]

Individual anecdotes, while sad for the patients, are worthless. It would be just as easy if not easier to list horror stories from private medicine.

The VA hospital in Ann Arbor (the hospital we use) is quite impressive.

[pancho]

I have been treated better at the VA hospitals than private hospitals.
Can't say anything but good about them.

[Hollowdweller]

Both Private and VA hospitals can have problems. Not the sole province of the VA.