Op-Ed: VA Apologizes, Returns Radio Reporter’s Audio Equipment

It goes beyond credulity that the Veterans Administration would confiscate a radio reporter’s audio equipment while he was interviewing a veteran at an open public forum on veteran's health issues put on by the VA as matter of privacy.

The key words: Open public forum. A place where veterans and the public were invited to openly and publicly discuss health problems faced by returning veterans and their families. In the tradition of Friday night news dumps hoping that no one will notice, the VA released a statement with an apology to David Schultz, a reporter for WAMU, a National Public Radio affiliate in Washington, D.C. The VA also returned Schultz’ flash drive they had confiscated earlier in the week. VA spokeswoman Katie Roberts, in a written statement, said the department "regrets this incident occurred" and as a result would hand back the flash drive that it took from the WAMU reporter at the VA Medical Center in Washington. The return of the flash card and the apology resulted from protests by a reporter’s group, and possibly a little common sense kicking in. Robert‘s statement continued:

"After reviewing all the facts surrounding the incident of April 7th and actions since, VA has arranged the return of the flash drive to WAMU," Roberts said. "We make every effort to protect the privacy of our patients and to ensure that they are able to make informed decisions about what information they release or discuss with the public while in a VA facility.

"The Department of Veterans Affairs regrets this incident occurred as we appreciate the interest of the press in covering veterans' issues."

Let’s do review the facts. Open forum. Vets to discuss their health problems. Vets to discuss their issues with the VA in public. VA not thinking before leaping. But when Schultz invited one injured veteran, who had spoken, into the hallway for a one-on-one interview, in stepped Gloria Hairston, a hospital public affairs officer, who told Schultz he could not do the interview unless he and the veteran signed consent forms. It was either sign the forms or hand over the recording equipment. Schultz refused, and Hairston had security bar him from leaving. Fearing arrest, Schultz handed over the recorder’s memory card, which also contained several hours of interviews that had nothing to do with the VA story. So…memory card returned. Apology extended. But it remains no secret that the Veterans Administration Department is riddled with problems. Compared to the scandal of rat-infested, falling down living quarters for vets receiving out-patient care, and other egregious miscues on the part of the VA, this is relatively minor, but nonetheless symptomatic of a department in disarray. Our retuning veterans, be they physically or mentally injured, deserve the best care medicine has to offer, and bureaucratic screw-ups are unforgivable. If I were Keith Olbermann, the VA would definitely have made it to his Worst Persons in the World segment on Countdown.