From the Journal Inquirer, 10/08/97, editorial
Civilian doctors kneeling to Department of Defense
by Charles A. Regulbuto

Tragically, the Department of Defense continues to deny the relationship of chemical exposure to the troops in the Gulf War to the diseases contracted to save face, protect careers, and escape liability. Ironically, yet more tragically, by virtue of stonewalling investigations and impending research, they are now preventing promising treatments from reaching vets afflicted with serious diseases by intimidating our civilian medical community.

We learn that some experimental drugs developed by pharmaceutical companies have been shown by trials to help, in particular, those suffering from Lou Gehrig's disease. Those companies have agreed to make the drugs available to vets with the disease on a voluntary basis, subject to these treatments being administered by a physician, many of whom when first approached have been receptive to participating. However, once the physicians learn that the afflicted patient is a Gulf War vet, despite the vet agreeing to sign releases, they shy away, stop returning calls, or flatly refuse.

Obviously, these doctors are frightened to go up against the Department of Defense. It is more than ironic and tragic, it is outrageous. What is this power this federal agency has over our medical community? These doctors should be ashamed of themselves. What has happened to the Hippocratic oath?

While these doctors exacerbate the Department of Defense's shame upon our country, our vets continue to suffer needlessly. Shame on you doctors, you are perpetuating this tragedy upon our people. I hope you see each veteran's face each day for the rest of your lives when you look into your mirrors.