How successful can VA be with apparent fraud in it's leadership ranks?

2015-12-11T07:51:22-05:00

http://dailycaller.com/2015/12/10/official-on-va-national-ethics-board-has-questionable-phd-degree-and-questionable-ethics/

Recently we read about two "senior" leaders who defrauded the federal government and taxpayers at a tune around $400,000. The Under Secretary claims they can't fire people as a means to excel. Now we read where VA has retained the services of an ethicist that serves to help shape VA's National Ethics agenda whose credentials are questionable. No wonder they don't see anything wrong with stealing $400,000 and are able to justify these actions as the path to excellence. They obviously are fans of Marine Veteran and musician, Shaggy's tune, "It wasn't me."

Official On VA National Ethics Board Has Questionable PhD Degree And Questionable Ethics

A medical doctor working at the New Mexico VA, who also sits on the VA’s national ethics committee, was reprimanded for having an inappropriate relationship with a student at the University of New M

Response by LTC Stephen F. made Dec 11 at 2015 7:52 AM

2015-12-11T07:52:32-05:00

I hope the apparent fraud in the VA leadership ranks is not running rampant Sgt Spencer Sikder. I am glad to learn that the fraud has been uncovered and hope it is not the tip of an iceberg but is a rare cancer which has not metastasized.

Response by Sgt Aaron Kennedy, MS made Dec 11 at 2015 8:29 AM

2015-12-11T08:29:44-05:00

After reading the article, there are a couple links that are "tenuous" at best. The doctor in question is retained for Medical Ethics, and in theory had a violation for "personal ethics" for an "improper relationship" with a student (doesn't say her student, just a student within her department).

There's A LOT of grasping at straws here, and A LOT of leading the reader to conclusions assuming we won't read the attached documentation fully. It's a "read between the lines" article. I have a hard time actually condemning her on "ethics violations" when I don't actually see anything that proves that.

The article is playing on the "If there's smoke, there's fire" and shows "wisps" of smoke, but never any actual "fire."

Response by PO1 Glenn Boucher made Feb 18 at 2016 2:12 PM

2016-02-18T14:12:44-05:00

I seriously doubt that the VA will ever get serious about cleaning up their leadership and way of conducting business because they are always investigating themselves when something comes to light and its they never find anything wrong and no one gets terminated.
The VA Secretary needs to have the authority to terminate those caught doing something wrong, such as using their position to move themselves into a better position and better pay.