Disposable Heroes?
How Cheap Is the Well Being of a Soldier?
By absentee Posted in Veteran Issues | War — Comments (6) / Email this page » / Leave a comment »
The Washington Times has a lengthy and detailed exposé up this morning exposing negligent treatment of American fighting men and women.
Men and women suffering from Post Traumatic Stress Disorder were given the drug Chantix as part of a smoking cessation study. Among the side effects of Chantix are psychosis and suicidal behavior. Read that again. Veterans suffering from PTSD were given a drug which can cause suicidal behavior.
The article highlights the story of Iraq war veteran James Elliott. Elliot participated in the "smoking-cessation treatment for veterans with post traumatic stress disorder" study, which was part of the Cooperative Studies Program (CSP).
Two videos are included with the story online, in which Elliott details his state of mind while taking Chantix. Eventually he became so disturbed by his experience that, during a psychotic episode, he was tasered by police while reaching for a concealed handgun.
Read on ...
Elliot began taking Chantix in November. Only two weeks later, the FDA learned that "the drug was linked to a large number of hallucinations, suicide attempts and psychotic behavior." Even so, Elliot was not warned about it before his incident with police ... in February. The FDA now reports "nearly 40 suicides and more than 400 incidents of suicidal behavior have since been linked to Chantix."
When, after his psychotic episode, Elliot did finally receive a letter listing the new warnings about Chantix, the letter did not mention suicidal thoughts among them. Read this excerpt of what program director Miles McFall had to say about that.
Asked why the letter omitted the most significant side effect, Mr. McFall said "the more verbiage you use, the more difficult and lengthy it becomes, hard to read. It's more likely veterans won't pay attention to it if you overdo."
However, a secondary research consent form sent with the letter that participants are now being asked to sign cites "changes in behavior, anxiety, nervousness, tension, depression, thoughts of suicide, and attempted and completed suicide."
Mr. McFall said the serious side effects were included in the secondary consent form, and not the notification letter, because "it's better to have the letter be brief" so that it is not a "burden for people who sometimes have problems reading."
Read the whole article, it's very revealing.
Smoking cessation programs are a good thing, in theory. But testing a drug like Chantix on PTSD sufferers hardly seems like a good idea. Taking four months to get your act together and warn the subjects that they might, you know, die seems grossly incompetent and inefficient, while responding that you left out the suicide part on account of veterans being lazy or illiterate is just plain gross.
Inefficiency and incompetence are frequently highlighted in criticism of the VA. Like most government entities, the VA has "channels," paperwork, and bureaucracy. That kind of clutter can impede proper care for American veterans. This incident, however, goes beyond the mere paper chase.
VA officials started addressing the FDA alert on Nov. 26 and Dec. 4 with conference calls among government officials "to inform prescribers about these potential problems and advise patients accordingly," according to a timeline agency officials provided The Times.
On Feb. 4, VA officials were told to "formulate and approve an action plan," and on Feb. 13, a second consent form and letter was submitted for approval by VA officials.
Can't you just picture the meetings about meetings?
There are so many aspects to a story like this. There is finger-pointing, and there is excuse-making. Procedures and lawyers and anecdotes .... but I don't need all that. It's the big picture.
Warriors were clearly put at risk for great harm, without being properly warned, by those they had turned to for help. It's a betrayal. Only this time, Judas offered the thirty pieces of silver.
We can do better. We must.
Click here to visit the Washington Times special interactive section "Disposable Heroes."
Kimberly Dozier: No Stranger To PTSD — Comments (4) »
Disposable Heroes? 6 Comments (0 topical, 6 editorial, 0 hidden) Post a comment »
so weird that I stopped...I cannot imagine giving it to someone with PTSD or who is depressed....that is like adding fuel to the fire...SICK!
Freedom of Religion NOT Freedom from Religion
That's government run socialized medicine in all its glory.
All you lurking liberals - this is the result of Government running anything. All the Hope for Change!, Change your Hope won't make it better.
Chant for Hope and Change all you can on free health care and you get a clincal trial where neary 40 PEOPLE DIED!!!!! and it took 3 MONTHS!!! to issue a warning. I doubt anyone will go to jail or lose their job either.
"the more verbiage you use, the more difficult and lengthy it becomes, hard to read. It's more likely veterans won't pay attention to it if you overdo."
GAH!!! Let's list all the minor side effects and omit the one about SUICIDE!!!
What's that?? Big Pharma is in it for the profit - we need Change! Yeah, Big Pharma would have killed the trial 24 hours after the first death! And probably paid a lot in restitution.
I'm sure the VA is cutting checks to those 40 people as we speak (/sarcasm)
Shame.
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"You can't save the Earth unless you're willing to make other people sacrifice" - Scott Adams (speaking through Dogbert)
one of my liberal aspects that I just can't shake is that I believe that the education should be paid for of everyone who serves and healthcare should be paid for of everyone who serves in a war.
For life.
Now, I believe it should be done differently than the VA.
The soldier ought to go to the doctor of HIS (or her) choice and then send the bill to the Government.
None of this "Go to the government facility and get care after waiting longer than an illegal immigrant in an emergency room."
You go where YOU choose and as a "Thank you" from the American People, we pay for your hospital bills and doctor bills if you served in a war... and any college you can get into (Yes, even Harvard).
If you did not serve in a war. . . well, you get a free education, but no healthcare.
I know... I know.... liberal stance...
I just can't shake it though... I don't know of any way that the American People can thank the soldiers enough for serving, ESPECIALLY in a time of war.
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Dependence is Slavery.
whether or not this research program was reviewed by an Institutional Review Board (IRB) - if so, which IRB.
The reason for my question is that I was under the impression that ALL human subjects research programs MUST be reviewed by an IRB - by LAW!
De Opresso Liber
A terrible, and depressing story.