Report says VA doctor rejected suicidal patient

Department of Veterans Affairs hospital staff dismissed a suicidal patient who died six days after a visit in which a doctor shouted that the patient “can go shoot (themself). I do not care,” a new report finds.

The patient, in their 60s, had a history of panic attacks and addiction to opioids and tranquilizers and sought treatment at the VA Medical Center in Washington, D.C., but was released before being given required suicide prevention planning, the department’s inspector general said in the report released Tuesday. The patient, who isn’t identified by name or gender, later died from a self-inflicted gunshot.

In a statement, the medical center’s director, Mike Heimall, called the instance an isolated incident that “does not represent the quality health care tens of thousands of D.C.-area veterans have come to expect from our facilities.”

The hospital, Heimall said, has made improvements that include random audits of 20% of suicide-related emergency room visits and checking that staff monitors emergency-room patients who express suicidal thoughts.

The patient had gone to the hospital’s emergency room seeking admission after

The patient ... had a history of panic attacks and addiction to opioids and tranquilizers ... but was released before being given required suicide prevention planning. Department of Veterans Affairs report

having trouble sleeping because of withdrawal from prescription drugs, the report states.

The patient denied thoughts of suicide, and home care instead of hospitalization was recommended.

After being told of the plan, the patient refused to leave. A doctor in the emergency room wrote that the patient was ranting and “clearly malingering.” VA police officers were called to escort the patient out.

When told the patient wanted to return for treatment of knee pain, the doctor exclaimed the patient “can go shoot (themself). I do not care.” The statement was heard by at least three other staff members though it was unclear whether it was heard by the patient, the IG states.

The doctor was a contract worker “who is no longer welcome at the facility,” Heimall said. The doctor’s conduct “was unacceptable and does not represent the dedication and compassion our employees exhibit daily. “