WT: A 76-year-old veteran committed suicide Sunday in the parking lot of New York Veterans Affairs hospital, police said.
Peter A. Kaisen, of Islip, was pronounced dead after he shot himself outside the nursing home at Northport Veterans Affairs Medical Center on Long Island, Suffolk County police told The New York Times.
The reason for Mr. Kaisen’s suicide was not immediately known, but two people connected to the hospital told The Times he was angry after he was allegedly denied care in the emergency room for issues related to his mental health.
“He went to the ER and was denied service,” a hospital worker told The Times. “And then he went to his car and shot himself.” MORE
I think he shot the wrong person.
I wonder if that facility is predominately union. Here in Charleston, the union is not well represented. This place has rated as one of the top ten centers in the system. The staff here is helpful and friendly. I was there today for a blood draw and a cancer screening. In and out in less than two hours.
This really saddens me. My brother Frank was a Vietnam vet. When he died three years ago and we did not know he was even alive. We had not seen him in forty years nor heard from him in thirty. After a tragic childhood, Vietnam and three bad marriages, he was addicted an living under a bridge sporadically. Finally, a few years ago, another vet helped get him to the VA in New Orleans. He got off drugs and even got a job repairing lawnmowers and rented a room in a boarding house. But he never quit drinking. I didn’t know any of this until after his death. His death certificate said ‘Death due to Alcohol Toxicity’. His blood/alcohol level was over .3. I guess he didn’t own a gun. But my point is, I wonder if the VA was really helping or was he just another drunk to them. These people deserve better, and I don’t care what Trump said about McCain if he actually helps the ones in need.
It is unconscionable the way many vets are treated. And then we have illegals who are given everything and can walk into any ER and be treated for sniffles. This makes me angry. Poor man. @Geofraz, I am sorry about your brother; that’s very sad.