Why Change VA Hospital Medical Staff Bylaws?

VA headquarters directed changes to hospital medical staff bylaws, deleting language stating that clinicians shall not discriminate based on national origin, marital status, politics, disability, membership in a labor organization, or other criteria unrelated to professional qualifications.

The changes were ordered despite established processes that require proposed bylaw changes be reviewed and approved by the hospital’s medical staff before being adopted.

Secretary Collins ’s insistence that VA will not tolerate discrimination for any reason is reassuring, but it leaves unanswered many questions that need to be addressed to assuage the angst and fear that the changes have precipitated among veterans and VA employees.

Discrimination based on politics, marital status, or other reasons is not the subject of or even mentioned in that document.