1115.org

On June 17, the Washington Times reported on a joint investigation with ABC News:

The government is testing drugs with severe side effects like psychosis and suicidal behavior on hundreds of military veterans, using small cash payments to attract patients into medical experiments that often target distressed soldiers returning from Iraq and Afghanistan, a Washington Times/ABC News investigation has found.

In one such experiment involving the controversial anti-smoking drug Chantix, the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) took three months to alert its patients about severe mental side effects. The warning did not arrive until after one of the veterans taking the drug had suffered a psychotic episode that ended in a near lethal confrontation with police.

Predictably, a White House spokesman (Tony “Truth-is-overrated” Fratto drew the lucky straw this time) dismissed the report as “irresponsible reporting” (predictably because throughout Bush’s tenure as president, any relationship between statements by the White House press secretary and other spokesmen and the truth, has been purely coincidental):

I saw the reporting in your paper and on I think it was ABC this morning. I thought actually some of it was some of the most — certainly at least what I saw on television this morning was some of the more irresponsible reporting that I’ve ever seen, in terms of taking what this one — the experience of this one veteran and trying to leave the impression that this was a situation for all veterans.
[…]
This is the Veterans Administration, under wonderful leadership by General Peake, Secretary Peake, who’s interested in the health and safety of these veterans that are under his care. And every other member of that V.A. system is the same.

And to try to imply that — and, in fact, not even imply. I see the words scrolled on a television screen this morning that the V.A. is using our veterans as guinea pigs, I thought was one of the most awful things I’ve ever had to watch on television.

These are people who care for our veterans. They care for the troops that have been out there every day fighting for this country. And they’re interested in their safety.

I imagine that the Washington Times and ABC News will be tendering an unqualified apology any time now. Because subsequent events have revealed that Fratto was exactly right. This wasn’t a situation for all veterans, just 32,000 of them. And “General” Peake has indeed proved that he is keenly interested in the health and safety of these veterans that are under his care. At least he is, as soon as it gets splashed around by irresponsible journalists that he has callously disregarded their health and safety. And our veterans are certainly not used as guinea pigs, they are only beguiled by $30 monthly payments into enrolling in drug studies without informed consent.

But don’t take my word for it. Veterans Affairs Secretary James Peake can speak for himself, and did:

Responding to an ABC News/Washington Times investigation, the Veterans Administration plans to inform 32,000 veterans that they are using a drug linked to suicide or violent behavior.

The investigation revealed that the VA waited three months to notify veterans in a VA experiment of the possible side effects from the anti-smoking drug Chantix.

All of the veterans enrolled in the Chantix study suffered from Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) and had been recruited, with monthly $30 payments, for a behavioral study with the drug.

Veterans Affairs Secretary James Peake told Washington Times reporter Audrey Hudson Thursday that he was personally sending new warning letters to the 940 veterans in the study and some 31,000 other veterans who have been prescribed Chantix by the VA.

“Our first responsibility is to our veterans,” said Peake, who said he has asked VA doctors to review “the communications process” involving all VA studies using veterans who are suffering from PTSD. Some 400,000 veterans are being treated for PTSD.

The Bush White House had initially defended the VA’s handling of the Chantix experiment.
[…]
In contrast, Secretary Peake said he “wished” the VA had not taken so long to warn veterans being used in the Chantix test.

Peake is certain to get an official reprimand. Once White House spokesmen have lied for you, you’re not allowed to make them look like liars by telling anything resembling the truth.