Common Cause Blog :: Reactions from my Walter Reed blog

Reactions from my Walter Reed blog

By Celia Wexler
Posted on Fri Mar 09, 2007 at 09:56:51 AM EST

Blogging is funny. Sometimes you feel passionately about something, write a blog, and nobody seems to notice.

Other times, what you write seems to hit a nerve. Earlier this week, I blogged on the scandal at Walter Reed Army Medical Center. My blog took mainstream media to task for not picking up on the ill treatment of wounded soldiers by the Army bureaucracy much sooner. Smaller media outlets like the online magazine Salon, had started running stories in 2003. And in 2005, there were congressional hearings that looked at some of these problems, problems also explored by the Government Accountability Office (GAO). My point was that investigative reporting that could have dug into this issue sooner was stymied by a powerful consolidated media that valued profits over good journalism, and that cut reporting jobs, and failed to give journalists the time and resources they need to do enterprise reporting that uncovers such abuses.

What I wrote got quite a bit of attention in journalism blogs, including www.poynter.org and www.grumpyeditor.com. And then the editor of www.TheNation.com asked me to write a column on the same issue. That attracted three responses from readers so far!

Two of the respondents agreed with me about the impact of consolidated media, but felt that no one could do anything to change its impact, and that we should be grateful when good stories ever got reported.

One journalist sent me an e-mail that tore into my argument, contending that it is only when big media like The Washington Post report a story does the story gain any real attention.He also said that is was "easy to blame the media" but that Salon's readers were responsible for not reacting to Salon's report.

I'd love to hear from our Common Cause audience on this. Are you concerned about the future of fact-based investigative journalism? Should reporters have uncovered the problems at Walter Reed sooner? Do you think we "blame the media" for our own failings as citizens?

Tags: journalism, Walter Reed, wounded soldiers, media and democracy (all tags)

Reactions from my Walter Reed blog :: 8 Comments

Walter Reed reporting

Ms Wexler Yes, reporters should have uncovered the problems at Walter Reed much sooner. However, now that the problems have been revealed, it is extremely important not to let them be covered over again. Fact-based investigative journalism may force the Bush administration (and future administrations)to acknowledge, address, and resolve the problems.

The next step for these veterans will be the VA hospitals and clinics. Unfortunately, the VA is, and has been, woefully under prepared and underfunded to deal with them. You only have to read DVA Secretary Nicholson's comments to understand.

At one point he says that the VA system is so large that occasionally "a linen towel" gets misplaced, while on another occasion he says that if even one veteran falls through the cracks it is too many. What are we--linen towels or honorable men and women who have sacrificed life and limb for the common good?

by jrlarge on Sun Mar 11, 2007 at 04:46:15 PM EST

Army Surgeon General Retires

The Army Surgeon General is being removed due to conditions at Walter Reed. He has asked to retire. I do not understand why these guys are not being charged with crimes and undergoing a legal process. Here this man was paid with tax dollars . . he did not do his job, and hence caused undue pain and suffering and probably even deaths of our veterans and he will get to retire with what I am sure is a large tax funded retirement with full benefits. Why isn't he (and others) facing court maritial and if not jail time, at least reduction of benefits (although I believe dismissal with NO benefits would be appropriate.) I don't really care about why they say they didn't know about the conditions. The good treatment of our men should have been their priority and if it was, they would have known about it. I think they are criminals.

I also think that top officials shouldn't get to just be treated at Bethesda. . it should be institution roulette. . one time at Bethesda, one time at Walter Reed, one time at etc.. . The institution the Presidient or another official that we are paying for the care for. . .should be chosen by lottery. That would help to ensure that adequate tx standards are met across branches and throughout the system.

Concerned Baby Boomer

by lummikat on Mon Mar 12, 2007 at 02:07:49 PM EST

Army Medical Corps and Army Medical Services Corps

I am an Army trained General Surgeon. Most people don't know that the Army Medical Services Corps is responsible for the conditions found at Walter Reed Army Medical Center. They have their own chain of command and general officers. Although they are under the Surgeon General's office and the Army Surgeon General, they are delegated the responsibility of handling all administrative matters related to Medical Evaluation and Physical Evaluation Boards after discharge of patients from the hospital and the Army. The MSC (Medical Services Corps) officers are responsible for all facilities, paperwork, legal matters etc. for these individuals. They are also responsible for the delays in getting the discharged servicemen to the Veterans Hospitals and their system.

The buck always stops at the top which is Lt. General Kiley but the Medical Services Corps is the responsible party for the problems at the facilities at Walter Reed and others. They should be looked into for explanations.

Lawrence C. Runke, M.D.

by lrunke on Tue Mar 13, 2007 at 12:47:14 PM EST

Finger Pointing

Dr. Runke's comment is not simply not accurate and worse yet it is not helpful to this egregious situation. The process of deciding on the disposition of wounded soldiers depends on actions by both physicians and administrators and delays can and do occur that can be attributed to both and to others outside of the Army Medical System.

What's important now is not finger-pointing, but taking action to insure that these problems at Walter Reed, other military hospitals, and the VA system are fixed.

by USArmyretired on Sat Mar 17, 2007 at 11:09:33 PM EST
[ Parent ]

What you are saying is just reflex action and BS. The responsible party(s) must be identified first in order to solve the problem. The problem is an administrative one and the MS Corps is responsible. That's where to start. You might then find that Congress has not funded adequately the administration of these services and as a result these problems arise, or the process must me changed, an almost insurmountable obstacle. MEB's and PEB's are very bureaucratic and lengthy. Gen. Kiley told the truth and no one wanted to hear him. They just wanted him served up on a platter. This problem will go unresolved unless something is done to rectify the MEB and PEB situation which, I'll bet, 99% of people don't even know what MEB's and PEB's are.

Fixing problems involves identifying them first which has yet to be completely done and identifying who is responsible for them and then coming up with a plan to fix them. Changes in personnel should follow not precede the investigation. Lrunke

by lrunke on Sun Mar 18, 2007 at 11:09:01 AM EST
[ Parent ]

Holding a mirror to nature

We may not be news media, but The Los Angeles Theatre Ensemble has been tackling the Walter Reed issue since 2005 with our production of "Wounded." Read about it on our website at http://www.latensemble.org or on the Fisher House Foundation website at http://www.fisherhouse.org/inTheNews/LA_Theatre_03_10_BW.shtml

If you're in LA, come check out the show.

Tom Burmester Artistic Director, The Los Angeles Theatre Ensemble www.latensemble.org

by tmark on Fri Mar 30, 2007 at 03:08:29 PM EST

reply

Today a great hospital and medical center stand in constant tribute to Walter Reed. Due to the untiring efforts of Colonel William Cline Borden who was the initiator, planner and effective mover for the creation, location, and first Congressional support of the Medical Center, it is still referred to today as "Borden's Dream." Walter Reed Army General Hospital, as it was then known, opened its doors on May 1, 1909 to ten patients. Fourteen years later, General John J. Pershing signed the War Department order creating the Army Medical Center. In September 1951, the entire complex of 100 rose-brick Georgian buildings became known as the Walter Reed Army Medical Center in further tribute to this hero of medical science. In 1945 he was elected to the Hall of Fame at New York University, the first physician to be so honored. On November 21, 1966, a bronze bust of Major Reed was unveiled at Walter Reed Army Medical Center by the Walter Reed Memorial Association, an organization which, since its inception in 1903, had resolved to erect a memorial in Washington to perpetuate his fame and memory. online casino

by galin on Thu May 17, 2007 at 08:51:46 AM EST

True

It's right that media has an important impact in this world. In some ways has a good impact in some a bad impact. In health area has an important impact with there help there were created center drug rehab treatment for lots of people that need it.

by great on Wed Sep 05, 2007 at 03:28:51 AM EST

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Reactions from my Walter Reed blog

By Celia WexlerPosted on Fri Mar 09, 2007 at 09:56:51 AM EST

By Celia Wexler
Posted on Fri Mar 09, 2007 at 09:56:51 AM EST