Update:
For those following along with Jolly’s recovery and VA nightmare…
We received official confirmation last week that the Virginia Board of Medical Professionals has opened three separate investigations into each of the VA physicians who were involved. Additionally, after relating our experience with our local congressional office they have now escalated their concerns to the VISN (Veteran Integrated Service Network) for investigation. We’ve been contacted by Clinical Risk Management within the VA and after speaking with Jolly they personally sent over the SF-95 Tort claim form. At this point we’ve spoken with several lawyers but so far none has been the right fit. We are hopeful one of the firms we are waiting to hear back from will reach out this week. If not we’ll move forward from there. This was not an isolated incident. There is deep systematic rot within many VA systems and Salem sits atop oozing with inadequacies.
Veterans should not have to beg for care. They shouldn’t walk into a mental health facility and walk out worse than they came in. They shouldn’t be called liars and have their diagnoses questioned. They shouldn’t have their longstanding medication regimen stripped without cause. They shouldnt lose their sobriety at the hands of doctors too weak to hold it. They deserve at a minimum continuity of care, trauma informed care, respect, dignity and compassionate treatment.
That’s why in addition to the typical damages we are seeking with the tort, I will be offering to assist in the education, reform, and development of trauma-informed care policy within the VA mental health systems. Which could include: speaking to VA leadership or staff on the lived experience of VA system failure, providing insight on family impact, caregiver strain, and trauma recovery, consulting on patient communication protocols, retaliation risk, and crisis prevention, helping shape staff training content to ensure veterans are treated with respect, dignity, and individualized care. This offer will not be a demand, but a commitment to help prevent further loss of life, restore trust, and build a better path forward. If anything can be gained from the hell Jolly and our family have endured I believe this could be it. Reform is necessary and using the voices of those broken by the system is the best place to start. Together we can make the VA a safe, healing place for every Veteran just like they were promised.
No Marine. No Sailor. No Airmen. No Soldier. No Guardsman. No Guardian. Should ever leave service and come home to fight another battle just for adequate care.