The Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) has implemented new guidelines allowing doctors and other medical staff to refuse treatment to unmarried veterans and Democrats, and to be barred from employment based on marital status, political affiliation, or union activity. These changes, which have already gone into effect in some VA centers, are cited as a response to a Donald Trump executive order aimed at stripping protections from transgender people, raising concerns about widespread discrimination and ethical breaches.
‘Extremely disturbing and unethical’: new rules allow VA doctors to refuse to treat Democrats, unmarried veterans
Donald TrumpUS militaryHospitalsHealthHealth policyLGBTQ+ rightsUnited States
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TL;DR: Key points with love ❤️The Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) has implemented new guidelines allowing doctors and other medical staff to refuse treatment to unmarried veterans and Democrats, and to be barred from employment based on marital status, political affiliation, or union activity. These changes, which have already gone into effect in some VA centers, are cited as a response to a Donald Trump executive order aimed at stripping protections from transgender people, raising concerns about widespread discrimination and ethical breaches.
Trending- 1 January 30 (implied 2025): President Donald Trump issues executive order 'Defending Women from Gender Ideology Extremism and Restoring Biological Truth to the Federal Government'.
- 2 Recently (before June 16, 2025): New VA hospital guidelines go into effect, explicitly eliminating non-discrimination language regarding politics and marital status for patient care and staff employment.
- 3 This week (before June 16, 2025): The American Medical Association's policymaking body passes a resolution urging healthcare institutions, including the VA, to ensure medical staff approval for bylaw amendments.
- 4 Last week (before June 16, 2025): Robert F Kennedy Jr. fires every member of a key panel advising the government on vaccines.
- Doctors could refuse to treat veterans based on their political affiliation, marital status, reason for seeking care (e.g., allegations of rape/sexual assault), or personal behavior (e.g., alcohol/marijuana use).
- Medical staff can be barred from working at VA hospitals based on marital status, political party affiliation, or union activity.
- Potential for discrimination against female veterans, LGBTQ+ veterans, and those in rural areas.
- Concerns about the lack of consultation with doctors before implementing rule changes.
- Ethical concerns raised by medical experts, calling the rules 'extremely disturbing and unethical'.
- Part of a larger attack on the independence of medicine and science by the Trump administration.
What: The Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) implemented new hospital guidelines allowing medical staff to refuse to treat patients based on personal characteristics not explicitly prohibited by federal law, specifically politics and marital status, and to bar staff based on these characteristics or union activity.
When: New rules have already gone into effect in at least some VA medical centers, following President Donald Trump's executive order on January 30 (implied 2025).
Where: Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) hospitals nationwide, United States.
Why: VA officials cite President Donald Trump's January 30 executive order, 'Defending Women from Gender Ideology Extremism and Restoring Biological Truth to the Federal Government,' which primarily aimed to strip most government protections from transgender people. The VA states the revisions ensure policy 'comports with federal law'.
How: Language requiring healthcare professionals to care for veterans regardless of their politics and marital status was explicitly eliminated from VA hospital bylaws. Similarly, non-discrimination clauses for staff membership regarding national origin, sexual orientation, marital status, labor organization membership, or political affiliation were removed.