I'm absolutely outraged by this new claim that the VA tested drugs with negative mental health effects on veterans.
Immediately what came to mind was the Tuskegee Experiment in which for 40 years poor black men in Tuskegee Alabama were studied for syphillis without proper consent, witholding information about conditions and not informing them properly about procedures.
Now almost 50 years later we learn military veterans, many suffering from mental distress and even illness may be the new guinea pigs.
You can view part one of the video here.
Please read my diary, comment and donate if you see fit. I am very committed to promote new Senators who are totally committed to better benefits for veterans. Please support Rick Noriega, Vivian Davis Figures and Bob Tuke. Can we meet the goal tonight and set a new one?
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Tuskegee experiment - Poor and illiterate black sharecroppers in Tuskegee Alabama were treated for Syphillis for 40 years. These men had no idea what they were being treated for
read this excerpt from an NPR article -- link here
The Public Health Service, working with the Tuskegee Institute, began the study in 1932. Nearly 400 poor black men with syphilis from Macon County, Ala., were enrolled in the study. They were never told they had syphilis, nor were they ever treated for it. According to the Centers for Disease Control, the men were told they were being treated for "bad blood," a local term used to describe several illnesses, including syphilis, anemia and fatigue.
For participating in the study, the men were given free medical exams, free meals and free burial insurance.
At the start of the study, there was no proven treatment for syphilis. But even after penicillin became a standard cure for the disease in 1947, the medicine was withheld from the men. The Tuskegee scientists wanted to continue to study how the disease spreads and kills. The experiment lasted four decades, until public health workers leaked the story to the media.
href="http://www.npr.org/programs/morning/features/2002/jul/tuskegee/">- link here
Now to even think that something remotely similar makes me really really sad and disturbed. It is said that African-Americans in this country have had a distrust for medical studies and doctor opinions for years because of this.
According to the Washington Times article - click here to read story
It took the VA three months after an alleged psychotic incident to notify patients of the side effects. Furthermore, the man James Elliot who is in the video could have been notified two weeks after taking the drug that it was linked to suicidal effects and other psychotic behavior.
The VA acted like the government in the Tuskegee experiment and chose not to notify the patients. Now clinical experiments are important, but on veterans who serve this country and come back with PTSD without any proper consent reeks of unethical implications.
All of this for $30 a month.
And so John Cornyn, issues a letter calling for this to be looked into. So he takes a step toward asking the government to inform veterans about their own health care. Where has he been on other veterans issues? Where was he when it was released the other day that female veterans receive less quality of care than males?
I think while drawing attention to this matter, we cannot allow Cornyn or any other Senators that give lip service to try and take credit for any remedies in this matter. Perhaps they are saying the right things for the right reasons.
Let's elect Senators that are going to support our troops all the time. Those that are going to provide proper educational benefits as well as adequate health care especially for mental health issues.
I ask you also vote for my candidate Vivian Davis Figures for Russ Feingold's Progressive Patriot. She really needs the help and is progressive. click here to vote
For anyone who donates to her tonight I will match that to Noriega.