Letter to U.S. Attorney to Investigate Marion VMAC Charges
Letter
Letter to U.S. Attorney to Investigate Marion VMAC Charges
U.S. Senator Durbin (D-IL) issued the following statement regarding his request for the United States Attorney's Office for the Southern District of Illinois to investigate the allegations included in a letter he received from several current and former employees at the Marion VA:
"Yesterday my office received a copy of a letter from a number of current and former employees at the Veterans Affairs Medical Center (VAMC) in Marion, Illinois. The letter contained allegations of serious misconduct and possible criminal wrongdoing at the Marion VAMC.
Because of the serious nature of these allegations, I have asked the United States Attorney's Office for the Southern District of Illinois to investigate these charges and to ensure that the law is followed at the Marion VAMC.
I want to personally thank Acting VA Secretary Gordon Mansfield for his cooperation in furthering this investigation. Secretary Mansfield is determined to find the truth and restore care for our veterans at Marion VAMC to the quality which has distinguished it for decades.
Next week, on Tuesday, November 6th in Washington, the Senate Veteran's Affairs Committee will be holding an oversight hearing to look into the hiring practices and quality control for doctors and others in the VA health system. This hearing is being conducted at my request and was in response to the problems reported at the VAMC in Marion.
Testifying at the hearing will be the VA Undersecretary for Health, Dr. Gerald Cross; the Director of the Illinois Department of Veterans Affairs, Tammy Duckworth; officials from the Government Accountability Office and a veteran who was treated at the Marion VAMC.
We need to get to the bottom of the problems that have been reported in Marion. And we need to make sure that these problems are not occurring elsewhere in other VA medical centers across the country.
Our veterans have risked their all for this nation; we owe them the highest quality medical care available."
The text of the letter appears below.
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November 3, 2007
The Honorable Aud Courtney Cox
United States Attorney
The United States Attorney's Office for the Southern District of Illinois
Nine Executive Drive
Fairview Heights, IL 62208
The Honorable Randy G. Massey
Acting United States Attorney
The United States Attorney's Office for the Southern District of Illinois
Nine Executive Drive
Fairview Heights, IL 62208
Dear Mr. Cox and Mr. Massey:
I write to bring to your attention a deeply disturbing letter that was sent to me from a group of current and former employees of the Marion, Illinois, VA Medical Center (the Marion VAMC). The enclosed letter contains allegations regarding substandard patient care, improper oversight, and possible criminal behavior at the Marion VAMC. These allegations are extremely serious, and deserve immediate investigation.
The patients who are treated at the Marion VAMC and other Veterans Affairs facilities deserve the highest quality of care. Similarly, the veterans and other employees who work at these facilities deserve to work in an environment where laws are respected and where the highest level of professionalism is maintained. In light of the numerous alarming revelations about the Marion VAMC that have already come to light in recent weeks, it is important that the enclosed allegations of criminal behavior be thoroughly investigated by your office and that appropriate actions be taken in response.
I urge you to review the enclosed letter and speak to the individuals who have brought these allegations to my attention. I also urge you to investigate and address their allegations promptly.
I look forward to working with you to ensure that laws are followed at the Marion VAMC and that the patients at that facility receive the quality treatment they deserve.
Sincerely,
Richard J. Durbin
United States Senator
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