As Veterans we made sacrifices to establish the rule of law in foreign nations and to defend the rule of law here at home. We deserve to have the law upheld in our medical care! The Patient Rights were developed to protect patient dignity and safety. Presently these rights are being trampled upon by Doctors and policies at VAMC M/SP and it has lead to the abuse of patients. Veterans deserve the best of care provided in an environment that respects and values their contribution to our country.

After a year of efforts to try and get hospital leadership to recognize my rights as a patient, I again needed to be hospitalized for my own safety as I was having Suicidal Ideations. I voluntarily sought help for myself. When I was informed that I would have to wear VA provided pajamas while on the acute care unit, I refused to surrender my clothing. The law clearly states that I have a right to wear my own clothes unless my treating Dr and the Chief of Staff decide that right needs to be restricted. It was 11:30 pm Sunday night and I knew that no effort had been made to follow the law. It is unit policy to have all patients in pajamas. The Doctor ordered the nurses to call the VA police to come and restrain me with metal Law Enforcement Handcuffs, so the nurses could cut my clothes off of me. I am a woman and also the victim of numerous earlier traumas. No respect to the harm of having my clothes cut from my body was given. No respect to my gender was given as there was a number of men in the room watching as I was forcibly undressed. This whole event should not have happened!

Our Veterans need not be victimized in this way as they stand up for the rights they fought to protect!