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American Veterans: Culture Change Needed to Fix Broken Health Care System 美国退伍军人表示需完善卫生保健系统
WASHINGTON — As Americans commemorate1 Memorial Day to honor the country's fallen soldiers, a scandal is unfolding that highlights the federal government’s failure to properly care for veterans. Fraud and neglect at the Veterans Administration reportedly have forced thousands of veterans to wait months to see a doctor and reportedly even caused some to die because of a lack of treatment.
In response to a firestorm of criticism over reports of neglect at veterans hospitals that have even caused preventable deaths, President Barack Obama says he will hold accountable officials involved in any misconduct.
“If these allegations prove to be true, it is dishonorable, it is disgraceful and I will not tolerate it, period,” said Obama.
Investigation2 proceeds
Twenty-six veterans facilities are under investigation, including a hospital in Phoenix3, Arizona, where 40 veterans allegedly died while waiting for treatment. The hospital there is reported to have kept a secret waiting list to hide months-long delays to get care.
The Veterans Health Administration treats nearly 9 million veterans at 1,700 facilities around the country.
The system has been overloaded4 by a growing number of wounded Iraq and Afghanistan veterans seeking treatment, and new expanded coverage5 for Vietnam vets6 and for Post-traumatic stress disorder7.
But the VA’s critics say reports of staff falsifying records to cover up treatment delays are indicative of a system that is both broken and criminal.
Louis Celli, Legislative8 Director for the American Legion, said the veterans group wants the president to immediately fire Secretary of Veterans Affairs Eric Shinseki, who is a disabled veteran, for failing to change the agency’s dysfunctional culture.
“We know that the Department of Veteran Affairs has had a long systemic problem and needed a culture change, and we thought Shinseki was the man to come in and do that, and we’ve since lost our faith in that.”
Congress is working on legislation to make it easier to fire poorly performing managers at the VA.
Senator John McCain, a wounded war veteran himself, said veterans deserve better. “We must be worthy10 of the sacrifices that are made on our behalf. How we care for those who risked everything for us is the most important test of a nation’s character. Today, we are failing that test.”
Pending11 an investigation, the White House is standing12 behind the embattled VA secretary for now. Obama has said he wants to focus on making systemic change.
“So today I want every veteran to know we are going to fix whatever is wrong, and so long as I have the privilege of serving as commander-in-chief I am going to keep on fighting to deliver the care and the benefits and the opportunities that your families deserve,” said the president.
On Memorial Day, America commemorates13 the soldiers who fought and died for their country. But this year many also will be talking about the country’s obligation to care for the veterans who fought and survived.
1 commemorate | |
vt.纪念,庆祝 | |
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2 investigation | |
n.调查,调查研究 | |
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3 phoenix | |
n.凤凰,长生(不死)鸟;引申为重生 | |
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4 overloaded | |
a.超载的,超负荷的 | |
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5 coverage | |
n.报导,保险范围,保险额,范围,覆盖 | |
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6 vets | |
abbr.veterans (复数)老手,退伍军人;veterinaries (复数)兽医n.兽医( vet的名词复数 );老兵;退伍军人;兽医诊所v.审查(某人过去的记录、资格等)( vet的第三人称单数 );调查;检查;诊疗 | |
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7 disorder | |
n.紊乱,混乱;骚动,骚乱;疾病,失调 | |
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8 legislative | |
n.立法机构,立法权;adj.立法的,有立法权的 | |
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9 oversight | |
n.勘漏,失察,疏忽 | |
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10 worthy | |
adj.(of)值得的,配得上的;有价值的 | |
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11 pending | |
prep.直到,等待…期间;adj.待定的;迫近的 | |
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12 standing | |
n.持续,地位;adj.永久的,不动的,直立的,不流动的 | |
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13 commemorates | |
n.纪念,庆祝( commemorate的名词复数 )v.纪念,庆祝( commemorate的第三人称单数 ) | |
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