OPINION:
I recently read that Deion Patterson, the suspect in last week’s deadly Atlanta medical-center shooting, had previously gone to a Veterans Affairs hospital to ask for a certain medication and was denied because the doctor thought the man could get addicted. I’ve heard this despicable excuse before, but it has now led to murder.
In 1987, as a 100% disabled Marine Corps veteran of the Vietnam War suffering from war wounds, I was denied treatment at a VA hospital in Florida for extreme back pain. Instead, I was given muscles relaxers, which left my left leg paralyzed.
In 1999 a neighbor referred me to a doctor friend after I was denied treatment for not having anyone to bring me to the VA hospital in Augusta, Georgia, for a biopsy on a lump on my numb left leg. I found out later I had a deadly cancer.
The VA lied and denied its responsibility until I taped a conversation with a veteran’s representative who said other vets in the same situation as me were receiving care. I sent the tape to Washington and was reimbursed for the 20% of costs that Medicare didn’t cover. They apologized and said the situation has been a mix-up, which was a bald-faced lie.
I paid to have a specialized shower and toilets installed in my new house due to my paralyzed leg, thinking I would be reimbursed for the cost. The occupational therapy people had a three-month wait for an appointment but I was in too much pain to wait and went elsewhere. I was subsequently denied reimbursement.
I’ve contacted Rep. Joe Wilson of South Carolina, asking for reimbursement and received a response saying he couldn’t do anything.
GREGORY J. TOPLIFF
Aiken, South Carolina
