Check on veterans criticised

Press, 27 October 1982, Page 9

Check on veterans criticised

NZPA-Reuter Washington

Thousands of American Vietnam veterans who were exposed to the defoliant Agent Orange during the war have not been given proper care by the Government, the General Accounting Office said yesterday. The office, a non-partisan investigative arm of Congress, said in a report that Veterans' Administration medical examinations of veterans were not thorough and little was done to inform patients of the potential health problems from the chemical.

A Democratic representative. Tom Downey, of New York, who requested the study, said: “The whole way

this programme operated is just another sorry chapter in that war.” Scientists are sharply divided over the effects of Agent Orange. Some believe that exposure can cause cancer and birth defects. Over 11 million gallons of Agent Orange, the common name for the chemicafe defoliants 2,4.5-T and 2,4-D, were sprayed on forests. waterways and crops in Vietnam from 1965 to 1971. The agency conducted a 2>'z-year study of the Veterans’ Administration’s efforts to reach and examine Vietnam veterans who were exposed to Agent Orange. The office said that doc-

tors in the V.A. Agent Orange programme often did not know what to look/ for, and conducted incomplete examinations. Out of 14 hospitals sampled, only one in WilkesBarre. did an adequate follow-up on the veterans, the office said. The Veterans’ Administration replied that the office data was oid, and many of the problems had been corrected over the years. Since 1978, the V.A. has examined 89.000 Vietnam veterans for problems associated with exposure to the chemical. But the only consistently documented problem is chloracne, a skin disorder. Any Vietnam veteran may

seek a medical examination for Agent Orange exposure. Since so much of the chemical was used, the Government presumes veterans were exposed. Mr Downey told reporters that he believes there is a link between Agent Orange exposure and the problems of veterans.

However, the deficiencies in the medical care were not due to any effort to cover up the health effects of the chemical. “I don’t think there is any conspiracy. It’s just sloppy," Mr Downev. said.

A Republican Senator. John Heinz, of Pennsylvania, said that he would re-intro-duce legislation to provide disability compensation.