NCJ Number
69963
Date Published
1980
Length
15 pages
Annotation
The General Accounting Office's (GAO) monitored the Veterans Administration's (VA) Office of Inspector General (OIG) investigation of the Palo Alto VA Medical Center.
Abstract
The major allegations made concerning the Palo Alto Medical Center involved significant increases in the crime rate, widespread illegal drug use, inadequate support from local and Federal law enforcement agencies, interference by medical center officials in criminal investigations, and reprisals and threats against VA police officers making the allegations. In addition, other allegations about employee wrongdoing and questionable medical center activities were made during the OIG's onsite investigation, which began in December 1979. Based on GAO's review of the investigation report and its supporting documentation, GAO believes that most of the major allegations were only pursued in part. In addition, the allegation GAO considers most serious-widespread illegal drug use--was only briefly mentioned in the OIG report. The OIG report did not draw conclusions on many allegations; rather, the report contained facts of OIG findings. GAO believes that the OIG should have pursued the allegations of reprisals and threats against VA police officers making allegations, inadequate law enforcement support from Federal agencies, VA's failure to pursue legal action against suspected criminal activities, and VA police being assigned to nonsecurity duties. GAO categorized all allegations as 'sustained,' 'not sustained,' or 'unresolved.' In GAO's judgment, 7 of 37 allegations addressed by the OIG were sustained, 18 were not sustained, and 12 were unresolved. As of July 1980, the OIG had not made any recommendations for corrective action. GAO understands that any recommendations resulting from the OIG investigation will be transmitted to the VA Chief Medical Director. Included is a table showing which allegations addressed by the OIG were, in GAO's opinion, sustained, not sustained, or unresolved.