‘Extremely disturbing and unethical’: new rules allow VA doctors to refuse to treat Democrats, unmarried veterans

[Anonymous]

Doctors at Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) hospitals nationwide could refuse to treat unmarried veterans and Democrats under new hospital guidelines imposed following an executive order by Donald Trump.

The new rules, obtained by the Guardian, also apply to psychologists, dentists and a host of other occupations. They have already gone into effect in at least some VA medical centers.

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.

https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2025/jun/16/va-doctors-refuse-treat-patients

I would hope state licensing boards would have something to say here, but the very idea. . .

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Doctors at Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) hospitals nationwide could refuse to treat unmarried veterans and Democrats under new hospital guidelines imposed following an executive order by Donald Trump.

The new rules, obtained by the Guardian, also apply to psychologists, dentists and a host of other occupations. They have already gone into effect in at least some VA medical centers.

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.

https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2025/jun/16/va-doctors-refuse-treat-patients

I would hope state licensing boards would have something to say here, but the very idea. . .

Also:
Doctors and other medical staff can also be barred from working at VA hospitals based on their marital status, political party affiliation or union activity, documents reviewed by the Guardian show. The changes also affect chiropractors, certified nurse practitioners, optometrists, podiatrists, licensed clinical social workers and speech therapists.

So, are we in 1933 Germany yet?

[Anonymous]

Doctors take an oath. This isn't an option.

[Anonymous]

This is another way to end VA benefits.

[Anonymous]

The rules say nothing about refusing to treat Democrats, or refusing to treat unmarried people. It is a hypothetical scenario dreamed up for clickbait headlines.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:The rules say nothing about refusing to treat Democrats, or refusing to treat unmarried people. It is a hypothetical scenario dreamed up for clickbait headlines.

One of the leaders of the Indivisible group I am involved with is a VA physician. I've asked him if he's able to get a copy. There is an 86 page VA Hospital Bylaws document updated in April which doesn't raise any red flags, but I am assuming this is about some kind of guidance.

[Anonymous]

reddit to the rescue

Example:
In Section 4 which covers the providers code of conduct they changed the following:
OLD

In Section 4 which covers the providers code of conduct they changed the following:
OLD

A. Acceptable Behavior: The West Palm Beach VA Medical Center expects that members of the medical staff will serve diligently, loyally, and cooperatively. They must avoid misconduct and other activities that conflict with their duties; exercise courtesy and dignity; and otherwise conduct themselves, both on and off duty, in a manner that reflects positively upon themselves and the Medical Center. Acceptable behavior includes the following (1) being on duty as scheduled. (2) being impartial in carrying out official duties and avoiding any action that might result in, or look as though, a medical staff member is giving preferential treatment to any person, group or organization, (3) not discriminating on the basis of race, age, color, sex, religion, national origin, politics, marital status, or disability in any employment matter or in providing benefits under any law by VA

NEW

Acceptable Behavior: The VA expects that members of the medical staff will serve diligently, loyally, and cooperatively. They must avoid misconduct and other activities that conflict with their duties; exercise courtesy and dignity; and otherwise conduct themselves, both on and off duty, in a manner that reflects positively upon themselves and VA. Acceptable behavior includes the following (1) being on duty as scheduled. (2) being impartial in carrying out official duties and avoiding any action that might result in, or look as though, a medical staff member is giving preferential treatment to any person, group or organization, (3) not discriminating on the basis of any legally protected status, including legally protected status such as race, color, religion, sex, or prior protected activity in any employment matter or in providing benefits under any law administered by VA

Old version of bylaws: https://www.vendorportal.ecms.va.gov/FBODocumentServer/DocumentServer.aspx?DocumentId=4646350&FileName=36C24819R0007-007.pdf

New Version of Bylaws: https://www.va.gov/files/2025-04/MEDICAL%20BYLAWS_April%202025%20-%20Final.pdf

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:reddit to the rescue

Example:
In Section 4 which covers the providers code of conduct they changed the following:
OLD

In Section 4 which covers the providers code of conduct they changed the following:
OLD

A. Acceptable Behavior: The West Palm Beach VA Medical Center expects that members of the medical staff will serve diligently, loyally, and cooperatively. They must avoid misconduct and other activities that conflict with their duties; exercise courtesy and dignity; and otherwise conduct themselves, both on and off duty, in a manner that reflects positively upon themselves and the Medical Center. Acceptable behavior includes the following (1) being on duty as scheduled. (2) being impartial in carrying out official duties and avoiding any action that might result in, or look as though, a medical staff member is giving preferential treatment to any person, group or organization, (3) not discriminating on the basis of race, age, color, sex, religion, national origin, politics, marital status, or disability in any employment matter or in providing benefits under any law by VA

NEW

Acceptable Behavior: The VA expects that members of the medical staff will serve diligently, loyally, and cooperatively. They must avoid misconduct and other activities that conflict with their duties; exercise courtesy and dignity; and otherwise conduct themselves, both on and off duty, in a manner that reflects positively upon themselves and VA. Acceptable behavior includes the following (1) being on duty as scheduled. (2) being impartial in carrying out official duties and avoiding any action that might result in, or look as though, a medical staff member is giving preferential treatment to any person, group or organization, (3) not discriminating on the basis of any legally protected status, including legally protected status such as race, color, religion, sex, or prior protected activity in any employment matter or in providing benefits under any law administered by VA

Old version of bylaws: https://www.vendorportal.ecms.va.gov/FBODocumentServer/DocumentServer.aspx?DocumentId=4646350&FileName=36C24819R0007-007.pdf

New Version of Bylaws: https://www.va.gov/files/2025-04/MEDICAL%20BYLAWS_April%202025%20-%20Final.pdf

Also:
Old Version of ByLaws

Section 1. Membership Eligibility
C. Decisions regarding Medical Staff membership are made without discrimination for reasons such as race, color, religion, national origin, gender, sexual orientation, lawful partisan political affiliation, marital status, physical or mental handicap when the individual is qualified to do the work, age, membership or non-membership in a labor organization, or on the basis of any other criteria unrelated to professional qualifications

New Version dated 2 April 25.

Section 3.01 Eligibility for Membership on the Medical Staff *
3. Decisions regarding Medical Staff membership are made consistent with law and without regard to an individual’s legally protected status, such as race, color, religion, sex, or prior protected activity

[Anonymous]

This is crazy.

Everyone should be up in arms about this.

MAGA are sickos.

[Anonymous]

Every day this becomes more and more relevant

First they came for the Communists
And I did not speak out
Because I was not a Communist

Then they came for the Socialists
And I did not speak out
Because I was not a Socialist

Then they came for the trade unionists
And I did not speak out
Because I was not a trade unionist

Then they came for the Jews
And I did not speak out
Because I was not a Jew

Then they came for me
And there was no one left
To speak out for me

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:The rules say nothing about refusing to treat Democrats, or refusing to treat unmarried people. It is a hypothetical scenario dreamed up for clickbait headlines.

You're not very bright, are you? It removes the prohibition that would prevent treatment on those bases. Thus, one can refuse treatment to a Dem or a woman and it is no longer illegal. You know, like "Christians" who are refusing to fill birth control prescriptions or issue marriage certificates to gay couples?

[Anonymous]

I asked a VA doctor I know about this and he said there's a lot of discussion among them.

They also removed reference to people with disabilities, even though that's a legally protected group.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:This is crazy.

Everyone should be up in arms about this.

MAGA are sickos.

No they will tell you you are crazy.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:This is crazy.

Everyone should be up in arms about this.

MAGA are sickos.

No they will tell you you are crazy.

Well, we tried to talk about how this was already done regarding the vaccine, but it got deleted...

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I asked a VA doctor I know about this and he said there's a lot of discussion among them.

They also removed reference to people with disabilities, even though that's a legally protected group.

Well lots of vets are gaming the system. The rates of increase spending and 100% disabilities claims at the VA is one of the drivers in the budget deficit. Not as big as the tax cut to the rich but those are sacrosanct.

It’s like office space where they fit the glitch but do not tell anyone. The pay check just stops. The Republicans know they are about to suffer huge defeats in the senate, house and at the states levels. They are pushing all their idiotic ideas in to law before they go out. Wish the dems did that so things could balance out.