Minneapolis VA faulted after Vietnam vet's suicide

Photo: Robert Ranson, Photos.com

Aug 29, 2012 at 6:06 am

MINNEAPOLIS (AP) - A report says the Minneapolis Veterans Medical Center was ''deficient'' in its handling of a suicidal Vietnam War veteran who later killed himself.
 
The report notes that the one-time Marine had survived a recent suicide attempt. The report alleges the hospital didn't follow up after mental-health staff warned that he might try to kill himself again.
 
The report was from the Veterans Administration Inspector General's Office, which investigates wrongdoing. It faults the VA's suicide-prevention coordinator for not consulting with the man's treatment team, and the hospital for failing to follow up with him.
 
VA spokesman Ralph Heussner tells the Minneapolis Star Tribune (http://bit.ly/U86IzX) every veteran's suicide is a tragedy. He says the hospital plans to use the information from the report to improve its system of flagging potential risks.

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