Poughkeepsie Journal (Poughkeepsie, NY)

June 12, 2002 Wednesday

VA doctor to fight proposed suspension

BYLINE: Elizabeth Lynch

SECTION: MID-HUDSON; Pg. 2B

LENGTH: 404 words

A doctor at the Montrose campus of the federal Department of Veterans Affairs faces suspension for what he says is retaliation for speaking out against the administration.
Dr. William C. Bowens, a psychiatrist at the Hudson Valley Health Care System’s FDR campus in Westchester County, received a letter proposing he be suspended for three days for failure to carry out instructions and dereliction of duty.
Bowens was quoted in a newspaper article Sunday criticizing the administration’s care of veterans. The article prompted U.S. Rep. Sue Kelly, R-Katonah, to call for an investigation into the facility.
In her letter to the VA, Kelly said three mentally ill veterans died and another killed his girlfriend within days of being “forced” out of the Montrose VA medical facility.
Bowens said he will fight the suspension.
“What choice do I have?” he asked.
Complaint lists concerns
Bowens said he has been at odds with the administration for several years because he believed psychiatrists were not being included as they should in decisions about patients. He filed a complaint in 1999 with the VA’s Inspector General outlining the concerns.
“They can’t say our input is not important and then have us sign off on everything that they do,” Bowens said.
Nancy Winter, spokeswoman for the VA Hudson Valley Healthcare System, said the allegations were reviewed by the IG and there was no credible evidence found.
Winter also said Bowens’ suspension was not in retaliation for the news article.
“We know people have the ability for free speech,” she said.
Several attempts to meet with Bowens in recent weeks were unsuccessful because he had been called to active duty in the reserves, Winter said.
“This was the first opportunity for his supervisor to meet with him,” Winter said.
The proposed suspension said Bowens refused to see patients. The notice states he was called twice on May 10 and told there was an emergency situation.
Bowens said he never was told there was an emergency situation and he was called by a secretary to discharge a patient.
“I will not discharge patients on demand,” he said.
The American Federation of Government Employees Local 1119, which represents the hospital workers, said it supports Bowens.
“They chumped up this thing,” said George Davis, vice president of the union local. “He’s risked himself as a psychiatrist to put himself on the line for these veterans.”