VA Rule Allows Doctors to Refuse Treatment Based on Politics, Marital Status
New guidelines at VA hospitals, implemented following a Trump executive order, permit medical staff to refuse treatment based on a patient’s marital status or political affiliation, despite ongoing obligations to treat all veterans regardless of race, color, religion, or sex. These changes, impacting numerous medical professions, remove previous protections against discrimination based on political affiliation and marital status in both patient care and staff hiring. Medical experts and veterans’ advocates express deep concern over the ethical implications and potential for widespread discrimination, particularly affecting vulnerable veteran populations. The VA maintains that all eligible veterans will receive care, while critics argue the changes undermine medical staff autonomy and patient access.
John Q. Hosedrinker