1. United States
2. N.Y.
3. Letter

Allowing healthcare workers to deny treatment to veterans based on political affiliation, marital status, or other personal characteristics is unacceptable and a violation of medical ethics. The Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) exists to provide high-quality care to all those who have served our country, without discrimination. Imposing restrictions that enable doctors to reject patients due to their beliefs or personal lives compromises the integrity of the VA healthcare system and puts vulnerable veterans at risk of being denied the care they have earned through their service. Every human being deserves access to medical treatment, regardless of their personal views or lifestyle choices. A doctor's role is to provide care, not to pass judgment or push a political agenda. These new rules from the Trump administration undermine the fundamental principles of the medical profession and enable prejudice to infiltrate clinical settings meant to be impartial and focused solely on patient wellbeing. This policy change is not only unethical but also impractical, especially for rural veterans who may have limited options for healthcare providers. It threatens to exacerbate existing disparities and could deter some from seeking necessary treatment due to fear of discrimination. No veteran should have to worry about being turned away by VA doctors because of their political party, relationship status, or other personal attributes irrelevant to their medical needs. I urge you to take immediate action to rescind these harmful new guidelines and reinstate protections against discrimination in VA facilities. Safeguarding the rights and wellbeing of our nation's veterans must be the top priority. Medical treatment should never be contingent on a patient's personal beliefs or identity.