The following letter from VA Secretary Denis McDonough is VA’s annual distribution about anti-harassment and sexual assault.
It is our great responsibility and privilege at VA to provide the best care and services to Veterans, their families, caregivers and survivors—and a key part of that effort is making sure that everyone who enters a VA facility is treated with the dignity and respect they deserve.
Sexual assault and harassment, in any form, have no place at VA. Every Veteran who receives treatment or benefits at a VA facility has the right to be treated with dignity and respect in an environment that is safe and free of harassment or sexual assault. Harassment or sexual assault has no place at any VA facility, it creates an unsafe and unwelcoming environment for everyone. Furthermore, when such conduct is observed by others and not reported, this omission allows, and sometimes encourages, such conduct to continue.
While we never want anyone to experience any harassment or sexual assault at a VA facility, VA stands ready to respond if an incident occurs. VA strongly encourages those who have experienced harassment or sexual assault to report it immediately. We will investigate every report and take appropriate action.
We also recognize talking about harassment or sexual assault can be difficult for some people, and VA has resources in place to help you throughout the process. Please note, there is no wrong door for reporting an incident, and VA has resources in place at all facilities to provide support. You can report to whomever you feel most comfortable speaking with about harassment or sexual assault. This includes law enforcement officials and VA designated points of contact. For more information on our resources, training and policy, visit the VHA Assault and Harassment Prevention Office website at VA’s Anti-Harassment and Anti-Sexual Assault Policy – VHA Assault and Harassment Prevention Office.
White Ribbon VA is a national call to action to eliminate sexual harassment, sexual assault and domestic violence across VA. Additionally, every VA Veteran and employee is encouraged to take the White Ribbon VA Pledge to never commit, excuse or stay silent about sexual harassment, sexual assault or domestic violence. To learn more and to take the pledge today, visit White Ribbon VA – Veterans Health Administration. Together, we will ensure that VA remains a trusted and safe environment for all.
VA acknowledges that the vast majority of those who enter our facilities are contributing to positive and safe environments. Thank you for respecting one another and for treating every Veteran, visitor and employee with dignity and respect.
Learn more about VA’s anti-harassment and anti-assault policies at the VHA Assault and Harassment Prevention Office.
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It is nice to see the VA Secretary stand up for Anti-Harassment and Anti-Sexual Assault Policy I just they are not just empty words for a political opt like the way he has cleaned up the problems at the VA Hospital in Decatur Georgia. I know he has people working for him that are suppose to take care of the problems but he forgets that the buck stops with him and his record is not that great for doing that. I could say more but what’s the use nothing ever gets done.
Any time someone makes sweeping condemnations about an entire organization, such as the VA, I doubt the veracity of the allegations. This also serves to highlight the folly of inundating the military with women, especially in combat positions.
It is encouraging to read articles of this nature to help ensure to all veterans that the VA has taken all necessary steps to instill integrity and responsibility when encountering vets who rely on health care of all natures.
I was sexually miss treated three times at the Durham VA in Durham N C nothing was done about it because I am a man. It is so bad for me I refuse to go to the emergency room. My medical provider keeps asking me to go and I keep turning him down. I will die before I go back to the er.
Refused by the nurse to see a doctor and my left arm is more ruined than before. Than discriminated by de Wilmington VA in Delaware for having a Service Dog and even the White House did nothing. It is terrible to deal with staff, even “patient right” staff. They don’t care. They refer you to private dentist who say that the delays are caused by the VA. I wish I could show you a picture what the VA in Phoenix did to my arm.
It’s too bad the world is just getting around to the anti harassment and sexual assault topic and issues. Fifty four years later. As everyone says better late than never. I wish there would have been some one I could have felt I could speak to about what happened to me.
Same here. I am a veteran and former VA employee. I too was assaulted and leadership worked at covering up the episode, hid information that could have helped me. I was already seeing a counselor there because of military issues, and was told to see me after the work assault was a conflict of interest. Was blocked from seeing my counselor. I quit in 2020. They work at hiding assaults just like the military. They keep the numbers down by carefully choosing words on police reports. Instead of calling it assault it is downplayed as unwanted touching. They are the same people that don’t believe or acknowledge MST in veterans.
I was assaulted in 2021 by a blood technician at Aspinwall VA. He damage my left arm with a syringe containing toxic chemical. Damage my heart, bone, tissues and nerve pain. With his fellow employees protecting him. My (PCP ) wouldn’t give me script. For Blood, orthopedic services not affiliated with VA. Waiting for my chance for justice in Federal Court. In future, make it easy for when harmed by VA. To get help outside of VA.
VA has ZERO respect for female and LGBT veterans. When VA retaliates illegally against a veteran that speaks out against wrong doing, they turn the medical record into a police blotter full of lies, zero out all medical services access, and block them from ever being allowed to submit another complaint.
VA staff are immune from wrong doing complaints unless someone dies or comes close to it. There is no accountability in the VA.
Retaliation due to friends in management hiring friends is common in the VA. Togus is the new Maine medical. The old staff and Veterans are being transferred to make room.
Nice fairy tale story…
Nothing is done when a Vet complains…
No one cares…
If Denis and his minions put as much effort into other parts of VA as they do to a “pledge” that accomplishes nothing other than providing a symbolic gesture, every homeless Veteran in America would be housed, there would be no claims backlog, and Veterans would have timely appointments. Instead, we get pandering to a subset of Veterans.
You don’t need a letter. Hold people accountable. It’s really that easy.
I sincerely hope the new year brings a new VA secretary, perhaps someone who isn’t a yes man to Joe Biden and who actually served in the military. Denis has done zero to change the culture of VA or improve services. He has done an excellent job of maintaining the status quo and avoiding a scandal to get him fired.
Thanks…for nothing.
I am an Army veteran and former VA employee. I was frequently sexually harrased while on the job. Reporting lead NOWHERE. I QUIT after a physical assault on the job in 2016.
Wonderful, what about VA employees who believe they have the right to bully veterans? This sometimes happens in many areas of what is for the most part a very caring and efferent origination. I was attacked by a ship board bully who was my supervisor. From that I now deal with the effects of a TBI. One personal example, blood draws are a concern for me. I was told years ago to ask for a small neddles which I do and in combination of daily meds to help I have been able to have blood draws for a few years now. However at my last draw the tech not only used a large (painful for me) and left a bruise on my arm and then said “ at the VA we only have one size needle. I have confirmed that that is not true at any hospital. This is important to me because for most of my adult life I have had a phobia for neddles.
I have dealt with several bullies in the VA but again the majority of the employees are outstanding. In some ways it is like sexual abuses. The bullies/attackers are far and few between but they seem to know whom to attack.
I hope this includes the staff as well. NO ONE should have to put up with abuse. NO ONE. I am a medically retired veteran with over 24 years of service. I started working at the VA a year after my retirement and was CONSTANTLY harassed by male patients to the point I got up, and walked out, and never went back to work there after trying to fight for my rights for over 4 years. Horrible treatment of the staff by patients. ADMINISTRATION DID NOTHING TO STOP THEM. THIS NEEDS TO STOP!!!!
I asked the Maguire VA hospital if it was possible to change doctors. The next thing I know I was reading a letter from the Hospital informing me that I would no longer be enrolled at the hospital because I missed my appointment.
Now we all know that if I had an appointment, they would call me, send post cards, and email me. I never had any knowledge that they had made me an appointment. I have had quite a few VA appointments and never missed one in the last 50 years.
I ignored their trick, went in and reregistered. My doctor had left the hospital and I was assigned a new one.
I have many VA stories.
That’s a joke. What’s it called when a doctor performs a vaginal exam against the signed written consent form- where it states “No consent for vaginal exam”? Sexual assault? Nope. Assault? Nope. Battery? Nope. It’s not even a slap on the wrist.