Contemptible Treatment
“Washington Post” correspondent Dana Priest has reported on what she discovered at Walter Reed Hospital.
When, those that have been severely injured in Iraq get out of the hospital a lot of them are on pain medications. It takes anywhere from 10 months to a year to get processed out. The unlucky ones live across the post in building 18, because the facility is overwhelmed.
Built before World Wars II, building 18 is infested with mice and some of the rooms have stained carpets and mold. Many people are upset about the condition of the rooms and soldiers have complained to their commanding officers. Mouse traps have been passed out and they’ve send over roach bombs to try to get rid of the cockroaches, but it’s been a chronic problem in Building 18.
According to Dana Priest, Walter Reed Army Hospital has been very clever in the way it controls the media. They cover up shoddy treatment and coverup the horror stories, because it’s their fault. It’s a question of shuffling paper work, getting people trained to the level where they know what to do.
Imagine a 20 year old wife, whose 22 year old husband has lost a couple of limbs. He’s in a wheelchair or trying to learn how to use his prosthetics. She comes and gets a cheap apartment somewhere near Walter Reed and wants to help him get his care.
She is supposed to get free lodging, but if she goes to get the money for that, the paper work may not be available. Her husband either has to wheel himself all over the post which can be acres of up and down in all kinds of weather or wait for a shuttle bus which may never come.
Those that have lost eyes, ears, limbs and portions of their brains have to go through this kind of bureaucratic nightmare. In many cases it sets back their treatment, because they withdraw and believe the system isn’t working for them. Some stop seeking the very care, they need to get better.
By sending more troops into Iraq and there is going to be more casualties. Major General Weightman the commander at Walter Reed admits they’re bracing for the impact of more casualties as the escalation gets underway.
Democratic Senators Barbara Mikulski and Patty Murray have called for a Pentagon investigation and Claire McCaskill and Barack Obama have written legislation to fix problems, and streamline the paperwork for the wounded.
When, those that have been severely injured in Iraq get out of the hospital a lot of them are on pain medications. It takes anywhere from 10 months to a year to get processed out. The unlucky ones live across the post in building 18, because the facility is overwhelmed.
Built before World Wars II, building 18 is infested with mice and some of the rooms have stained carpets and mold. Many people are upset about the condition of the rooms and soldiers have complained to their commanding officers. Mouse traps have been passed out and they’ve send over roach bombs to try to get rid of the cockroaches, but it’s been a chronic problem in Building 18.
According to Dana Priest, Walter Reed Army Hospital has been very clever in the way it controls the media. They cover up shoddy treatment and coverup the horror stories, because it’s their fault. It’s a question of shuffling paper work, getting people trained to the level where they know what to do.
Imagine a 20 year old wife, whose 22 year old husband has lost a couple of limbs. He’s in a wheelchair or trying to learn how to use his prosthetics. She comes and gets a cheap apartment somewhere near Walter Reed and wants to help him get his care.
She is supposed to get free lodging, but if she goes to get the money for that, the paper work may not be available. Her husband either has to wheel himself all over the post which can be acres of up and down in all kinds of weather or wait for a shuttle bus which may never come.
Those that have lost eyes, ears, limbs and portions of their brains have to go through this kind of bureaucratic nightmare. In many cases it sets back their treatment, because they withdraw and believe the system isn’t working for them. Some stop seeking the very care, they need to get better.
By sending more troops into Iraq and there is going to be more casualties. Major General Weightman the commander at Walter Reed admits they’re bracing for the impact of more casualties as the escalation gets underway.
Democratic Senators Barbara Mikulski and Patty Murray have called for a Pentagon investigation and Claire McCaskill and Barack Obama have written legislation to fix problems, and streamline the paperwork for the wounded.
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