Esther Garatie
Last month we told you about Esther Garatie, a lesbian Marine veteran who says she became the victim of anti-gay harassment by a nurse practitioner when she sought mental health treatment at the Dallas VA Medical Center.
Today Change.org is reporting — and Dallas Voice has confirmed — that the nurse practitioner, Lincy Pandithurai, has been placed on administrative duty pending the outcome of the VA Medical Center’s investigation into Garatie’s complaint.
“We started a fact-finding review when this allegation was first brought to our attention,” VA Medical Center spokeswoman Monica A. Smith said in an email. “To get a more in-depth look at the allegation, VA North Texas is now conducting an administrative investigation board review and expects to have that completed by the end of November. The nurse named in the allegation is currently placed on administrative duties while the investigation is ongoing.”
Smith explained that administrative duty means Pandithurai is assigned to a non-clinical area and is not seeing patients. Smith declined to specify the date when Pandithurai was placed on administrative duty.
The Change.org petition calling for the VA Medical Center to fire Pandithurai — which was launched by Garatie’s friend Jessica Gerson in the wake of the alleged incident — now has almost 13,000 signatures.
I’m a post-op transsexual lesbian, and receive medical care through the VA. I have received nothing but respect and courtesy by my primary care practitioner, who is a female nurse practitioner—and from all other VA employees who know my history, for that matter.
Are you every veteran, Michelle?
Are you every patient who has been seen there, Michelle?
Bully for you that you got decent treatment. That does not change the fact that Esther didn’t get it.
I’ve had nothing BUT bad experiences with VA. It’s why I never use my benefits.
Are you every veteran, Aquaria? Are you every patient whose been seen there, Aquaria.
It’s a shame that you and Esther didn’t get decent treatment. That doesn’t change the fact that I got it.
My point is that none of our experiences are indicative of what the system is like. I’m sure that part of the reason Esther was treated so poorly is that she is in Texas. If she (or you, for that matter) were at the Phoenix VA or the San Francisco VA, I’m sure you would not have had those bad experiences.
Don’t condemn the entire VA system because of isolated bad experiences.