Senate Veterans Affairs Chairman call for VA top official resignation - XDTalk Forums - Your HS2000/SA-XD Information Source!

**Ed Ely** · 04-24-2008, 12:24 PM

SENATE VETERANS AFFAIRS COMMITTEE

AKAKA CALLS FOR RESIGNATION OF VA MENTAL HEALTH OFFICER KATZ OVER ALLEGED COVERUP OF VETERANS’ SUICIDES

April 22, 2008

WASHINGTON, D.C. - Today, U.S. Senator Daniel K. Akaka (D-HI), Chairman of the Veterans' Affairs Committee, called for the resignation of Dr. Ira Katz, Mental Health Officer for the Department of Veterans Affairs, following reports that Dr. Katz was involved in efforts to cover up the number of veterans attempting suicide. Akaka sent his request by letter to Dr. Michael Kussman, VA's Under Secretary for Health.

"Dr. Katz's personal conduct and professional judgment have been called into question. I believe veterans, and the Department of Veterans Affairs, would be best served by his immediate resignation," said Akaka.

Dr. Katz is VA's Deputy Chief Patient Care Services Officer for Mental Health.

Chairman Akaka's letter is enclosed below:

Dear Dr. Kussman:

I am writing to request the resignation of Dr. Ira Katz, Deputy Chief Patient Care Services Officer for Mental Health.

Dr. Katz's personal conduct and professional judgment have been called into question by his response to the mental health needs of veterans, and in particular to veteran suicides. I believe veterans, and the Department of Veterans Affairs, would be best served by his immediate resignation.
America's veterans deserve mental health care of the highest quality.

Many veterans returning from combat have complex mental health needs, and VA must be fully able to meet those needs. VA cannot be complacent in its efforts to prevent veteran suicide. I look forward to working with you to provide veterans with the best services possible.

Sincerely,

Daniel K. Akaka
Chairman

FYI

Ed

XD 9 Loaded Sub-Compact · 04-24-2008, 01:33 PM

Wow I wish I had more details as to why attempted to cover them up. It would only benifit the rest of the mental health community to learn from it so they can stop it. Were there other commonalities between them other than combat exerience, is this doctor guilty of dereliction of duty in which he could have prevented them and doesn't want his feet put to the coals?too many questions and not enough answers....

**eric_t12** · 04-24-2008, 06:15 PM

if it was a cover-up, or even a serious "mistake" he should resign.

there's such a thing as criminal negligence, after all.

yocan · 04-25-2008, 08:22 AM

If they try, fail, recover/get past their issue, wouldn't you prefer they cover it up? An attempted suicide on your record is a life altering if not ending thing on your resume.... just saying we don't have the facts, it could be them protecting the guys in iraq from loosing their careers, even giving an honorable discharge I think could be construed as covering it up... so I'll wait to make my molotov coctails until I know more.

**Ed Ely** · 04-28-2008, 09:00 AM

VA Denies Cover-Up of Suicide Rates

Ed

RobbSmith · 04-28-2008, 09:15 AM

If he did cover it up, then bury him!

04-24-2008, 12:24 PM	#1
Ed Ely XDTalk 5K Member Join Date: Mar 2001 Location: 37.65N -84.76W (Elev. 932 ft) Posts: 7,524 Blog Entries: 1	Senate Veterans Affairs Chairman call for VA top official resignation SENATE VETERANS AFFAIRS COMMITTEE AKAKA CALLS FOR RESIGNATION OF VA MENTAL HEALTH OFFICER KATZ OVER ALLEGED COVERUP OF VETERANS’ SUICIDES April 22, 2008 WASHINGTON, D.C. - Today, U.S. Senator Daniel K. Akaka (D-HI), Chairman of the Veterans' Affairs Committee, called for the resignation of Dr. Ira Katz, Mental Health Officer for the Department of Veterans Affairs, following reports that Dr. Katz was involved in efforts to cover up the number of veterans attempting suicide. Akaka sent his request by letter to Dr. Michael Kussman, VA's Under Secretary for Health. "Dr. Katz's personal conduct and professional judgment have been called into question. I believe veterans, and the Department of Veterans Affairs, would be best served by his immediate resignation," said Akaka. Dr. Katz is VA's Deputy Chief Patient Care Services Officer for Mental Health. Chairman Akaka's letter is enclosed below: Dear Dr. Kussman: I am writing to request the resignation of Dr. Ira Katz, Deputy Chief Patient Care Services Officer for Mental Health. Dr. Katz's personal conduct and professional judgment have been called into question by his response to the mental health needs of veterans, and in particular to veteran suicides. I believe veterans, and the Department of Veterans Affairs, would be best served by his immediate resignation. America's veterans deserve mental health care of the highest quality. Many veterans returning from combat have complex mental health needs, and VA must be fully able to meet those needs. VA cannot be complacent in its efforts to prevent veteran suicide. I look forward to working with you to provide veterans with the best services possible. Sincerely, Daniel K. Akaka Chairman FYI Ed

04-24-2008, 01:33 PM	#2
XD 9 Loaded Sub-Compact XDTalk 1K Member Join Date: Jan 2008 Location: Kansas Posts: 1,131	Wow I wish I had more details as to why attempted to cover them up. It would only benifit the rest of the mental health community to learn from it so they can stop it. Were there other commonalities between them other than combat exerience, is this doctor guilty of dereliction of duty in which he could have prevented them and doesn't want his feet put to the coals?too many questions and not enough answers.... __________________ "Only two things are infinite, the universe and human stupidity, and I'm not sure about the former." -- Albert Einstein

04-24-2008, 06:15 PM	#3
eric_t12 XDTalk 3K Member Join Date: Nov 2006 Location: SD Posts: 3,445	if it was a cover-up, or even a serious "mistake" he should resign. there's such a thing as criminal negligence, after all. __________________ FBI: Gun Owners are Potential Terrorists Our Economic Future: GAO 21st Century Challenges The Police Have No Duty To Protect You VFW Life Member GOA Life Member

04-25-2008, 08:22 AM	#4
yocan XDTalk 1K Member Join Date: Feb 2007 Location: Detroit Posts: 1,807	If they try, fail, recover/get past their issue, wouldn't you prefer they cover it up? An attempted suicide on your record is a life altering if not ending thing on your resume.... just saying we don't have the facts, it could be them protecting the guys in iraq from loosing their careers, even giving an honorable discharge I think could be construed as covering it up... so I'll wait to make my molotov coctails until I know more. __________________ The three requirements for a school shooting. 1 know the floorplan. 2 Know the threats inside the location and response time/entry time for the police 3. Royally screwed up intelligent analytic mind. We need more laws to protect these three rights. Ban guns in schools, it obviously works.

04-28-2008, 09:00 AM	#5
Ed Ely XDTalk 5K Member Join Date: Mar 2001 Location: 37.65N -84.76W (Elev. 932 ft) Posts: 7,524 Blog Entries: 1	Updated...VA Denies Cover-Up of Suicide Rates VA Denies Cover-Up of Suicide Rates Ed

04-28-2008, 09:15 AM	#6
RobbSmith XDTalk Member Join Date: Apr 2008 Location: Loveland Colorado, USA Posts: 52	If he did cover it up, then bury him! __________________ Colorado CCW Springfield XD 45ACP Compact (LOVE IT!) Springfield 1911-A1, Loaded, Full Size, 5" Bersa Thunder .380 S&W Airweight Snub 38 Special Robb D. Smith (1SG, US Army Ret.) American Legion Cdr, Post 15, Loveland, Colorado. http://www.fortnet.org/Post15/

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