Veterans Affairs Hearing on Veterans and Suicide-Inducing Drugs
July 9th, 2008 by Jesse LeeThe Veterans Affairs Committee is currently holding a hearing, “Why Does the VA Continue to Give a Suicide-Inducing Drug to Veterans with PTSD?”
‘Disposable Heroes’: Veterans Used To Test Suicide-Linked Drugs
Brian Ross and Vic Walter, ABC News and Washington Times - June 17, 2008
Mentally distressed veterans from Iraq and Afghanistan are being recruited for government tests on pharmaceutical drugs linked to suicide and other violent side effects, an investigation by ABC News and The Washington Times has found.
The report will air on Good Morning America and will also appear in The Washington Times on Tuesday. (click here to read the Washington Times coverage of “Disposable Heroes”)
In one of the human experiments, involving the anti-smoking drug Chantix, Veterans Administration doctors waited more than three months before warning veterans about the possible serious side effects, including suicide and neuropsychiatric behavior.
“Lab rat, guinea pig, disposable hero,” said former US Army sniper James Elliott in describing how he felt he was betrayed by the Veterans
Chairman Bob Filner gives opening remarks:
Chairman Filner: “In February of 2008, the FDA issued a public health advisory stating ‘Chantix may cause worsening of current psychiatric illness, even if it is currently under control, and may cause an old psychiatric illness to occur. Symptoms may include anxiety, nervousness, tension, depressed mood, unusual behaviors, or thinking about or attempted suicide.’ According to the records we have, the VA waited until the end of February 2008, that is a month later, to send a letter and new consent forms to study participants to notify them of the dangers associated with Chantix. The letter informed patients that they may experience an increase in psychiatric symptoms, such as anxiety, nervousness, tension, and depression, as well as untoward changes in behavior. It failed to mention in that letter that Chantix may lead to suicide,ideation or attempted suicide. That fact was buried in a consent form.” |
Lieutenant Colonel Charles: “Why were members of a group, who by the VA’s own diagnoses were struggling to return to mental health normality, selected for this study? The mental health of these veterans was known to have been, in various degrees, what a layman would term “fragile.” Special caution and prudence should have been invoked before exposing them to a drug study where by definition “unknown” factors might further damage their mental health. Instead, the very VA physicians trusted to help the vets regain a more normal mental condition enticed the vets to join a game of mental-health roulette, while withholding critical information that would have permitted true ‘informed consent’ to have been given.” |
US Army sniper James Elliott, the Iraq War veteran interviewed in the investigation, discussed his first encounter seeking help for PTSD during questioning from Rep. Tim Walz (MN-01), Rep. Phil Hare (IL-17), and during brief closing remarks:
Elliott: “My very, very first visit with a VA psychiatrist was unsatisfactory to say the least. I mean he wasn’t concerned about my day-to-day life, he wasn’t concerned with my wartime experiences, he wasn’t concerned if I was going to make it home safe after the appointment. His only concern was that I had a very strong nicotine habit.” Rep. Walz: “The first conbsultation you had when you were going in for PTSD… the conversation went straight to smoking?” Elliott: “Yes, sir.” |
Chairman Bob Filner questions Veterans Affairs Secretary James Peake:
Chairman Filner: “What disturbed me in the press accounts leading up to this hearing, Mr. McFall was quoted as saying — your PR was quoted as saying — ‘you know, there’s no causation here, we’ll wait til the study is over.’ Yeah, well if there is causation we’ll know because some will be dead..” |