Military Psychology News Robot<p>TRIGGER WARNING: Military Psychology<br> <br>New Rules at VA Effect Treatment and Hiring of Patients and Staff Based Upon Political and Marital Affiliations<br> <br>New Rules at VA Effect Treatment and Hiring of Patients and Staff Based Upon Political and Marital Affiliations</p><p>Please note this not "only" effects patients -- staff can be discriminated against (or fired?) for <a href="https://mastodon.clinicians-exchange.org/tags/nationalorigin" class="mention hashtag" rel="nofollow noopener" target="_blank">#<span>nationalorigin</span></a> , <a href="https://mastodon.clinicians-exchange.org/tags/sexualorientation" class="mention hashtag" rel="nofollow noopener" target="_blank">#<span>sexualorientation</span></a> , <a href="https://mastodon.clinicians-exchange.org/tags/maritalstatus" class="mention hashtag" rel="nofollow noopener" target="_blank">#<span>maritalstatus</span></a>, membership in a <a href="https://mastodon.clinicians-exchange.org/tags/union" class="mention hashtag" rel="nofollow noopener" target="_blank">#<span>union</span></a> and/or lawful political party affiliation.</p><p>Hashtags in quotes below added by me to the quotes.</p><p>-- Michael</p><p>~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~</p><p>TITLE: ‘Extremely disturbing and unethical’: new rules allow VA doctors to refuse to treat Democrats, unmarried veterans<br>URL: <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2025/jun/16/va-doctors-refuse-treat-patients" rel="nofollow noopener" translate="no" target="_blank"><span class="invisible">https://www.</span><span class="ellipsis">theguardian.com/us-news/2025/j</span><span class="invisible">un/16/va-doctors-refuse-treat-patients</span></a></p><p>"Doctors at Department of <a href="https://mastodon.clinicians-exchange.org/tags/Veterans" class="mention hashtag" rel="nofollow noopener" target="_blank">#<span>Veterans</span></a> Affairs ( <a href="https://mastodon.clinicians-exchange.org/tags/VA" class="mention hashtag" rel="nofollow noopener" target="_blank">#<span>VA</span></a> ) hospitals nationwide could refuse to treat unmarried veterans and Democrats under new hospital guidelines imposed following an executive order by Donald Trump."</p><p>"The new rules, obtained by the Guardian, also apply to <a href="https://mastodon.clinicians-exchange.org/tags/psychologists" class="mention hashtag" rel="nofollow noopener" target="_blank">#<span>psychologists</span></a>, dentists and a host of other occupations. They have already gone into effect in at least some VA medical centers."</p><p>"Medical staff are still required to treat veterans regardless of race, color, religion and sex, and all veterans remain entitled to treatment. But individual workers are now free to decline to care for patients based on personal characteristics not explicitly prohibited by federal law."</p><p>"Language requiring healthcare professionals to care for veterans regardless of their politics and marital status has been explicitly eliminated."</p><p>...</p><p>"They 'seem to open the door to <a href="https://mastodon.clinicians-exchange.org/tags/discrimination" class="mention hashtag" rel="nofollow noopener" target="_blank">#<span>discrimination</span></a> on the basis of anything that is not legally protected', said Dr Kenneth Kizer, the VA’s top healthcare official during the Clinton administration. He said the changes open up the possibility that doctors could refuse to treat veterans based on their “reason for seeking care – including allegations of <a href="https://mastodon.clinicians-exchange.org/tags/rape" class="mention hashtag" rel="nofollow noopener" target="_blank">#<span>rape</span></a> and <a href="https://mastodon.clinicians-exchange.org/tags/sexualassault" class="mention hashtag" rel="nofollow noopener" target="_blank">#<span>sexualassault</span></a> – current or past political <a href="https://mastodon.clinicians-exchange.org/tags/partyaffiliation" class="mention hashtag" rel="nofollow noopener" target="_blank">#<span>partyaffiliation</span></a> or <a href="https://mastodon.clinicians-exchange.org/tags/politicalactivity" class="mention hashtag" rel="nofollow noopener" target="_blank">#<span>politicalactivity</span></a>, and personal 'behavior such as alcohol or marijuana use'."</p><p>...</p><p>"Similarly, the bylaw on 'decisions regarding medical staff membership' no longer forbids VA hospitals from discriminating against candidates for staff positions based on national origin, sexual orientation, marital status, membership in a labor organization or 'lawful political party affiliation'."</p><p>TITLE: ‘Extremely disturbing and unethical’: new rules allow VA doctors to refuse to treat Democrats, unmarried veteransURL: <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2025/jun/16/va-doctors-refuse-treat-patients" rel="nofollow noopener" translate="no" target="_blank"><span class="invisible">https://www.</span><span class="ellipsis">theguardian.com/us-news/2025/j</span><span class="invisible">un/16/va-doctors-refuse-treat-patients</span></a></p><p>-- Human Operator Michael<br> <br>--------------------------------------<br>Private, vetted email list for mental health professionals: <a href="https://www.clinicians-exchange.org" rel="nofollow noopener" translate="no" target="_blank"><span class="invisible">https://www.</span><span class="">clinicians-exchange.org</span><span class="invisible"></span></a><br> <br>NYU Information for Practice puts out 400-500 good quality health-related research posts per week but its too much for many people, so that bot is limited to just subscribers. You can read it or subscribe at <span class="h-card" translate="no"><a href="https://mastodon.clinicians-exchange.org/@PsychResearchBot" class="u-url mention" rel="nofollow noopener" target="_blank">@<span>PsychResearchBot</span></a></span> <br> <br> Since 1991 The National Psychologist has focused on keeping practicing psychologists current with news, information and items of interest. Check them out for more free articles, resources, and subscription information: <a href="https://www.nationalpsychologist.com" rel="nofollow noopener" translate="no" target="_blank"><span class="invisible">https://www.</span><span class="">nationalpsychologist.com</span><span class="invisible"></span></a><br> <br>EMAIL DAILY DIGEST OF RSS FEEDS -- SUBSCRIBE:<br><a href="http://subscribe-article-digests.clinicians-exchange.org" rel="nofollow noopener" translate="no" target="_blank"><span class="invisible">http://</span><span class="ellipsis">subscribe-article-digests.clin</span><span class="invisible">icians-exchange.org</span></a><br> <br>READ ONLINE: <a href="http://read-the-rss-mega-archive.clinicians-exchange.org" rel="nofollow noopener" translate="no" target="_blank"><span class="invisible">http://</span><span class="ellipsis">read-the-rss-mega-archive.clin</span><span class="invisible">icians-exchange.org</span></a><br>It's primitive... but it works... mostly...<br> <br> <a 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