I erroneously made a statement regarding the suicide
death of a local Veteran, Peter Kaisen, at the VA Medical Center in Northport,
NY, on August 21, 2016. I reported, along with other individuals and the local Press,
that Mr. Kaisen had gone to the Emergency Room at the VA Hospital and been
turned away (denied service). I have since learned that the FBI, investigating
the case, has in its possession surveillance video of Mr. Kaisen entering the
grounds and driving directly to parking lot where he took his life.
This error does not, however, preclude the
possibility that Mr. Kaisen had run into resistance in getting proper care
in the past. It is well known by those who consume the products and services of
the VA Health system that denial of service and restrictive access to care are
routine rather than the exception.
On September 20th, 2016, there will be a hearing
held at the VAMC, Northport by the House Subcommittee on Oversight and
Investigations. This is a subcommittee of the House Committee on Veterans
Affairs of which Lee Zeldin and Steve Israel are members. I would like to see local
Long Island Veterans in the audience for this hearing as a show of support in
the effort to turn this Facility around. The Veterans of Long Island deserve
better than they are currently getting.
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