An investigation has found that the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) has knowingly hired doctors with problematic pasts, whether they were flagged for malpractice or disciplinary offenses.
USA TODAY’s investigation uncovered that the department had potentially hired multiple problem doctors despite having a “rigorous” hiring process that involves medical license verifications, reference checks, interviews, and even approval from a professional standards board.
One of the problem doctors the VA hired was neurosurgeon John Henry Schneider, who had faced over a dozen malpractice claims and settlements in two states. These include cases alleging that he made surgical mistakes that left patients maimed, paralyzed, or dead.
While Schneider was forthcoming with his license being revoked and his malpractice issues, the VA hired him when he applied for a job with the department.
Since starting work with the VA in April, several of Schneider’s patients have already suffered alleged complications. In one instance, a 65-year-old veteran who received four surgeries from the doctor died in August, allegedly due to complications.
In other cases, a VA hospital in Oklahoma knowingly hired a psychiatrist who was previously disciplined for sexual misconduct – the psychiatrist went on to sleep with a VA patient. A Louisiana VA clinic hired a psychologist with felony convictions, but later fired the professional after it had determined that he was a “direct threat to others.”
When attention was brought to the matter, VA officials determined that the hiring of Schneider and an undisclosed number of other problem doctors was illegal.
“We will take the same prompt removal action with any other improper hires we discover,” said VA spokesman Curt Cashour.
Federal law prevents the department from hiring physicians whose license has been revoked by a state board, even if a doctor holds an active license in another state.
Although his Wyoming license was revoked, Schneider still had his Montana license.
The VA last week moved to fire Schneider following the investigation, but he resigned instead.
Last October, another investigative report by USA TODAY found that the VA had concealed for years the poor care and mistakes its medical workers have committed when they leave the agency, allowing the workers to still find work despite the risk they carry.
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