New pointers applied underneath an govt order by President Donald Trump now enable VA hospital employees to refuse healthcare to veterans based mostly on political affiliation and marital standing, prompting issues that Democratic and single veterans could also be denied therapy.
On January 30, Trump signed an govt order titled “Defending Ladies from Gender Ideology Extremism and Restoring Organic Reality to the Federal Authorities.” Whereas its main purpose was to curtail federal protections for transgender people, the order additionally triggered sweeping modifications inside the Division of Veterans Affairs (VA), in accordance with the Guardian.
The VA, which serves over 9 million veterans throughout greater than 170 hospitals and 1,000 clinics, revised its inside bylaws to strip longstanding protections in opposition to discrimination based mostly on political occasion, marital standing, sexual orientation and nationwide origin.
The up to date insurance policies enable docs, psychologists, dentists and different healthcare staff at VA hospitals to refuse therapy to veterans based mostly on traits not explicitly protected by federal legislation. Whereas veterans are nonetheless legally entitled to care, there may be now no rule stopping employees from declining service to people based mostly on their political opinions or whether or not they’re single.
Inner paperwork reviewed by the outlet affirm that the modifications are already in impact at some VA facilities. The VA’s press secretary confirmed the revisions have been made to align with Trump’s govt order however didn’t make clear what federal legislation required such shifts.
The brand new guidelines have drawn sharp criticism from medical consultants and ethics professionals. Dr. Kenneth Kizer, the VA’s high well being official, warned the coverage might enable suppliers to disclaim care to sufferers based mostly on rape allegations, political exercise or substance use. Dr. Arthur Caplan of NYU’s Grossman Faculty of Medication referred to as the modifications “unethical” and “an effort to exert political management over the VA medical employees.”
Initially revealed on Latin Occasions
