Three veterans dead within a week

CanadianJudo · 2019-04-13T22:01:19.457Z

Three veterans have died within a span of a week at VA facilities, once again highlighting the lack of care veterans are getting.

WASHINGTON — Three suicides occurred during a five-day period on Department of Veterans Affairs properties, prompting reaction this week from Capitol Hill.

Two veterans died by suicide in Georgia, one April 5 at a parking garage at the Carl Vinson VA Medical Center in Dublin and the other April 6 outside the main entrance to the Atlanta VA Medical Center in Decatur, the Atlanta Journal-Constitution reported.

On Tuesday, a veteran shot himself in the waiting room at a VA clinic in Austin, Texas, according to KWCX-TV.

“Those deaths did not go by me without noticing them, nor has it gone by me that we have a job to do,” Sen. Johnny Isakson, R-Ga., said Wednesday during a Senate Veterans’ Affairs Committee hearing.

Stars and Stripes

Three veterans in five days die by suicide at VA facilities

Richard Stone, executive in charge of the Veterans Health Administration, said there have been more than 260 suicide attempts on VA property, 240 of which were interrupted and prevented.

CaughtInTheMiddle · 2019-04-13T22:47:03.365Z

Really sad. I hope the VA can address this and improve services.

WuWei · 2019-04-14T00:10:14.974Z

CanadianJudo:

once again highlighting the lack of care veterans are getting.

Why do you say that?

Smyrna · 2019-04-14T09:08:28.477Z

That’s a very strong condemnation of one entity, based on very little knowledge of what happened prior in their lives and during their time being treated. That said, this problem needs to be immediately addressed.

zantax · 2019-04-14T09:10:00.976Z

Government healthcare.