Rep. wants probe of VA psychologist firing

[unhappycamper]

Rep. wants probe of VA psychologist firing
The Associated Press
Posted : Sunday Feb 15, 2009 15:16:10 EST

MEMPHIS, Tenn. — A Tennessee congressman has intervened in the case of a psychologist who was fired from the Memphis Veterans Medical Center for her handling of a phone call from a distraught Iraq war veteran.

Rep. Steve Cohen sent a letter to Secretary of Veterans Affairs Eric Shinseki asking for an investigation into the firing of clinical psychologist Sidney Ornduff, The Commercial Appeal in Memphis reported.

Cohen, a Memphis Democrat, compared Ornduff’s popularity to that of Florence Nightingale, the 19th-century nurse known for advising and comforting wounded soldiers.

“I want him to investigate and see what happened, to look into that case and, if possible, encourage her to come back because I think she’s a star,” he said.

Cohen said it’s wrong for the administration and veterans to lose Ornduff as a resource.


Rest of article at: http://armytimes.com/news/2009/02/ap_vets_psychologist_021509/%2e

[elleng]

1. Quite a story.

'Rhine, the veteran who made the early morning call, said he’s glad someone is seeking an investigation.

“I already know she done the right thing,” he told the Memphis newspaper. “But I still want (an investigation) to happen. That way everybody else will know what I already know.”'