Some people might joke that they dream of being paid six figures to sit around and do nothing. The reality is that many people do like to work, especially those who have found employment that is meaningful to them. To many people, the thought of being paid to sit and do nothing all day seems more like a nightmare than a dream. Unfortunately, there are situations in which highly skilled workers who are capable of making a big difference in the world get deprived of the opportunity to do so after becoming whistleblowers.
Dr. Dale Klein knew that he was doing the right thing when he called attention to the secret wait-lists, suspected black market prescription resale, and manipulation of wait times that he witnessed at his workplace, the V.A. in Poplar Bluff, Missouri. He reported the issues first to his superiors at the V.A., and then, after they did nothing to address his concerns, he reported them to the inspector general. Unfortunately, Dr. Klein’s bold and decisive move gave the top-rated pain management specialist a new position as quite possibly the highest-paid federal government employee whose job entails doing absolutely nothing. Dr. Klein would rather be helping veteran manage their pain, but, instead, he earns his $250,000.00 salary by sitting in a chair in a tiny office.
As soon as Klein blew the whistle, the V.A. placed him on administrative leave and stripped of his privileges, his patients, and his entire pain management practice. They even tried to fire him, alleging frequent acceleration of trivial matters through the chain of command. The Office of Special Counsel stated that Dr. Klein was a whistleblower and, as such, could not be terminated. Instead, the V.A. turned to retaliation in the hope of silencing him. The V.A. has been advised to stop the retaliation. In January, Senate Homeland Security and Government Affairs Committee Chair Ron Johnson wrote a letter to the acting secretary of the V.A. requesting that the V.A. stop its campaign of retaliation against Klein.
Whistleblower retaliation is a frequent occurrence throughout the V.A. health care system. A whistle-blowing employee at the Denver V.A. recently quit due to unbearably hostile workplace conditions. That employee was leading the Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder clinical team in Denver and, like Dr. Klein wanted to dedicate his life’s work to assisting those who have served our country. He, like Klein, reported secret wait-lists that kept veterans suffering from PTSD waiting months and months for mental health care services. The delays in receiving care have proven deadly in some cases, where veterans who suffer from PTSD are unable to wait to receive care and end up committing suicide. This deeply compassionate, motivated, and talented individual also sits at a desk and does nothing all day after being stripped of his responsibilities. A senator intervened on his behalf and got the inspector general to launch an investigation into the matter, and the senator is also trying to pass a whistleblower protection bill that is aimed specifically at the V.A.
Barrett Law PLLC: Compassionate Support for Mississippi Whistleblowers
Whistleblowers often get mistreated after they try to right the wrongs that they witness at work. If you have tried to address violations of the law in your workplace and you have been treated poorly as the result of your efforts, call the Mississippi Whistleblower Attorney at Barrett Law PLLC today at 1 (800) 707-9577 for an initial consultation.