PTSD and Toxicology - Salem-News.Com

Phillip Leveque has spent his life as a Combat Infantryman, Physician, Toxicologist and Pharmacologist.

(MOLALLA, Ore.) - When the news stories broke about miserable treatment of wounded veterans at the flagship Walter Reed Army Hospital in Washington, D.C. I was stunned. I thought hack 60 years ago when I was (mis)treated for a broken neck in the VA Hospital in Portland, Oregon in 1947.

They told my mother three times "we don't think your son will make it". One of my doctors who met me in 1949 at medical school assumed they had scrambled my brain. He thought I was a janitor rather than a Ph.D. candidate in Pharmacology and Toxicology for Multnomah County in Portland, Oregon.

When I read about Walter Reed, I thought to myself, haven't they improved any in 60 years, since the war ended in '45, or even from WWI in 1918?

I must assert that it is even worse now. They are giving veterans medicines and even their own doctors know that they don't work and make things worse.

At any rate to get back to the subject at hand, I identify myself proudly as a Combat Infantryman, physician, pharmacologist and Toxicologist.

One reader emailed the question, What does a toxicologist know about PTSD" My one word answer is PLENTY. Not only was I a frontline infantry rifleman, I was a battalion scout, point man and forward observer.

Ask any combat infantryman. These are the most dangerous, most lethal jobs in the Army. Frontline infantrymen were less than 10 percent of the Army but suffered 70 percent of dead and wounded.

I was a lucky one - no physical wounds but I did end up with PTSD and i couldn't even talk about my experiences and tried not to think about them for thirty years.

I had a full year of college psychology before I volunteered for the Army in 1944. It didn't help at all. I had a psychiatry course in med school, it didn't help much either.

I have seen dozens of my battalion members killed and scrambled by artillery fire and I have seen too many comrades broken by "battle fatigue." Yes, I know PTSD and Toxicology.

As a pharmacologist and Toxicologist (I taught in medical schools for 26 years.) I know what the VA doctors and "fake" doctors (psychologists and social workers) are (not) doing for our disabled veterans.

I also know these "caregivers" are killing veterans by dumping lethal medicines on them. If these caregivers could be sued for medical malpractice they'd be selling used cars some place and not in hospitals.

Everybody but high ranking officers and politicians know the Army and VA are hazardous to veterans health. So far they are doing nothing about it.

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Got a question or comment for Dr. Leveque?
Email him: Newsroom@Salem-News.com

More information on the history of Leveque can be found in his book, General Patton's Dogface Soldier of Phil Leveque about his experiences in WWII.
Order the book by mail by following this link: Dogface Soldier.
If you are a World War II history buff, you don't want to miss it.

Watch for more streaming video question and answer segments about medical marijuana with Bonnie King Dr. Phil Leveque.

Click on this link for other articles and video segments about PTSD and medical marijuana on Salem-News.com: Dr. Leveque INTERVIEWS & ARTICLES

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vet613 March 10, 2008 10:23 am (Pacific time)

Doc, You said a mouthful! The meds that the "all knowing" continue to prescribe are disposed of. After 5 years of the paxil's, prozac's, and assorted other s*@t I took personal control and quit the crap. Yeah, I still cry for no reason sometimes...sometimes my life seems too much, but I am off of the poison (and the associated side effects)at last! Please keep telling the truth...I follow your writings and find them to be right on the mark! Thanks

Sawyer Johnson March 10, 2008 10:07 am (Pacific time)

That would be a great idea get some funding immediately to develop civilian oversight panels, start with a small pilot program and work out the kinks. There are some really great doctors and nurses at the VA, but there are some that need to be removed. Laws should be changed that when you have a medical professional that fails to meet appropriate standards then instead of it being a private personnel matter, make a public record of it! We are talking about people's health and lives here!

Henry Ruark March 10, 2008 10:06 am (Pacific time)

Friend Ty: First step in ANY effective action-process is always to achieve that "I'm so mad I won't take this anymore !" --and there are always actions one can take, too. Appreciate your insights from your own experiences, and agree across the board on the necessities here. DO believe we need to start with obvious target --the one at top of all governmental "Executive" responsibilities, charged with the task of leading the Congress according to the Constitution, not impeding, hampering, confronting and otherwise negating its Constitutional role. SO that's why impeachment now for Bush II cabal is real demanded first-step --clear away dead, dying, decaying, damaging and destroying action underway there, then turn to vote-power applied to our elected representatives, in turn. Hope you agree, and kudos to you for your righteous anger on this one. What will you now plan to DO ??

Ty Cello March 9, 2008 12:36 pm (Pacific time)

I am in full agreement with the author of this article. The things I have witnessed, create such anger in me. Congress is to blame, all 535 of them need to be tasked on an individual level to see exactly where they are on this VA funding matter, then remove those who doubletalk. Have civilian oversight panels at every VA hospital and outpatient clinic. Hell, prosecute all for criminal negligence when warranted, including the 535 congress members should be fair (prosecution) game themselves.

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