News

Normally this site focuses on the United States' military medical system. However today we are making a special exception. We bring you the story of Dr. Ramin Pourandarjani, a physician in the Iranian military who worked in a prison but stood up to authorities by allegedly refusing to falsify medical documentation concerning abuse. According to this story published in the Wall Street Journal, he died standing up for his beliefs. Here are some select quotes:

At the height of Iran's bloody civil unrest this year, a young doctor named Ramin Pourandarjani defied his superiors. He refused to sign death certificates at a Tehran prison that he said were falsified to cover up murder.

9 answers we'd like to have regarding Maj Hasan and the Fort Hood shootings:

1. Reports described Hasan as a non-traditional medical student who had experience as prior enlisted. Were his academic credentials appropriate for USUHS?
2. Some reports suggested Hasan struggled academically at USUHS during medical school. If this was the case why was he allowed to graduate and why was he allowed to go straight into a residency without a GMO tour?
3. A very negative evaluation authored by Hasan's psychiatry residency program director was published by a variety of news outlets. Why was he allowed to graduate residency?

In June of 2007 the DoD Mental Health Task Report recommended that mental health screening questions from the security clearance questionnaire be removed to reduce stigma. In response, the DoD announced in the spring of 2008 that the mental health question on the Standard Form 86 would be revised.

Here is the language from the September 1995 revision:

In the last 7 years, have you consulted with a mental health professional (psychiatrist, psychologist, counselor, etc.) or have you consulted with another health care provider about a mental health related condition?

USA Today has an article today written by Gregg Zoroya entitled Troops' kids feel war toll. The article claims that children of combat troops have more fear, anxiety and behavioral problems. Here are some select quotes:

CAMP LEJEUNE, N.C. — Lance Cpl. Jonathan A. Phillips’ fellow Marines all knew one thing: He should not be in combat. His reaction to the deaths of four friends in the span of two weeks gave Phillips’ commanders enough concern to send him to a mental health expert. Then again. Then two more times.