[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 154 (2008), Part 8] [Extensions of Remarks] [Pages 10953-10954] [From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]VAPTSD DIAGNOSES ______ HON. BOBBY L. RUSH of illinois in the house of representatives Thursday, May 22, 2008 Mr. RUSH. Madam Speaker, I rise today to express the astonishment and indignation I felt upon learning of the actions of Dr. Norma Perez, staff psychologist at the Olin E. Teague Veterans' Center in Temple, TX. For those who may not know, Dr. Perez sent an email referring to the increase in ``compensation seeking veterans'' and urged medical professionals to ``refrain from giving a diagnosis of PTSD straight out'' citing, among other reasons, the fact that veterans who have been diagnosed with Post Traumatic Stress Disorder at the Temple facility have been appealing their compensation and pension judgments ``based on our assessment.'' Madam Speaker, I am appalled. I am appalled that a medical professional at the Department of Veterans Affairs would consider the cost of treatment as a factor in making a medical diagnosis. What is the cost of a veteran's well-being? At what point do we determine that certain medical diagnoses would be too expensive to treat? At what point do we determine that a service induced injury is one that a veteran does not deserve to be compensated for? Madam Speaker, as President Lincoln reminded us in 1865, it is our duty as a nation to ensure that we ``care for him who shall have borne the battle''. We must accept our responsibility and ensure that our veterans have proper and complete medical care and diagnoses that are free of political considerations and are made in terms of their well- being. As a proud former member of the United States Army I am incensed that such a decision was ever considered. I applaud Secretary Peake for his repudiation of this affront to our Nation's veterans and call upon him to ensure that the culture of the Department of Veterans Affairs lives up to its stated goal of ``excellence in patient care, veterans' benefits and customer satisfaction.'' [[Page 10954]] ____________________