Abe Hamadeh, a veteran and Republican candidate for Arizona’s 8th Congressional District is pressing for answers and accountability after a troubling incident at the Phoenix VA Hospital may have contributed to the death of a veteran. The incident prompted the Department of Veterans Affairs Secretary, Denis McDonough, to call for a systemwide review of VA policies.
Abe Hamadeh told The Arizona Sun Times that it is “encouraging to see the VA taking steps to improve its policies and procedures, but it’s deeply tragic that these changes come only after the loss of one of our nation’s heroes.”
Hamadeh emphasized the importance of proactive measures.
“The life of a veteran is too precious to be the catalyst for change—these brave individuals have already sacrificed so much for our country,” he said.
Hamadeh also called for greater accountability, saying, “The VA must proactively create an environment where policies and procedures empower swift, life-saving actions rather than merely reacting to crises.”
The congressional candidate noted that he is “committed to providing our veterans with the resources necessary to ensure those who serve our nation receive the timely and effective care they rightfully deserve.”
A bipartisan letter issued on July 25 by the Arizona congressional delegation said that the incident was “part of a troubling pattern of inappropriate response by the Phoenix VA, whose procedures have contradicted and failed to meet Veterans Health Administration standards.” They requested “an immediate briefing from you on how the Phoenix VA will implement the OIG’s recommended policy changes and training standards immediately, as well as ensure lifesaving equipment is available.”
A second letter issued on July 29 from the Republicans only included stronger language and more specific demands. The lawmakers said that “since 2014, the Phoenix VA has been the subject of scandal.”
According to the Office of Inspector General (OIG) report, in March 2023, a veteran leaving the Phoenix VA Hospital suffered a medical emergency in the hospital’s parking lot. Despite being mere feet away from medical help, the veteran waited 11 minutes for Phoenix Fire Department crews to arrive and administer basic life-saving measures. The veteran was then transported to another hospital, where he died days later.
The report also revealed that conflicting policies at the Phoenix VA Hospital played a role in the delay. According to the report, the hospital’s policy allows a Rapid Response Team to respond only to emergencies inside the facility, requiring 911 to be called for incidents outside. A staff member, aware of this policy but desperate to help the veteran, activated the Rapid Response Team against protocol, hoping to expedite care.
The OIG criticized the Phoenix VA policy for not aligning with broader VA guidelines designed to “optimize patient safety for those requiring resuscitation” and ensure rapid response capabilities for emergencies on VA property.
“We plan to take a hard look at how this happened,” McDonough stated. “We’re not just fixing it here where it happened, but we plan to fix it across the system.”
McDonough has not yet responded to the requests from the congressional delegation.
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Christy Kelly is a reporter at The Arizona Sun Times and The Star News Network. Follow Christy on Twitter / X. Email tips to Kelly.writes@icloud.
