17 Jun 2025

New Rules at VA Let Providers Refuse to Treat Unmarried Veterans and Democrats

by Bonnie | | 0

New rules at Veterans Administration facilities due to an executive order by Donald Trump “defending women” in hospital guidelines allow doctors, psychologists, dentists and other medical staff to refuse to treat military veterans who are Democrats, unmarried or have some other characteristic not protected by law.

The order was mainly intended to deny protection and gender affirming care to transgender people. Its implementation goes much farther.

All military veterans are still entitled to treatment from the VA. Staff still have to treat veterans regardless of the legally protected characteristics of race, color, religion and sex. However, individual members of staff can refuse care based on personal characteristics not explicitly protected by federal law.

Medical experts say the rule changes “seem to open the door to discrimination on the basis of anything that is not legally protected”, said Dr Kenneth Kizer, who was the VA’s top healthcare official during the Clinton administration. Doctors could refuse treatment based on the patient’s “reason for seeking care such as rape and sexual assault, political party affiliation, political activity, or personal behavior such as substance use.

In addition, medical staff can also be prohibited from working at VA hospitals due to marital status, political party or labor union activity.

Click here for more details.

Click here to read the executive order.

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