A Veterans Affairs official accused of keeping double books to hide the fact that dozens of veterans
died awaiting care previously ran a Washington state VA facility that allegedly fudged suicide numbers, FoxNews.com has learned.
Sharon Helman, director of the Phoenix Veterans Affairs Health Care system, is accused with other management officials
of keeping a fake waiting list that made it appear sick veterans were being treated in a timely manner -- while hiding the
real list that showed up to 1,600 sick veterans were waiting months to see a physician. Rep. Jeff Miller, R-Fla., chairman
of the House Committee on Veterans Affairs, said investigators have evidence that two sets of records were kept by the facility
to conceal the lengthy delays in care.
At least 40 veterans on the secret list allegedly
died while waiting for appointments, prompting congressional committees to launch investigations into the circumstances surrounding
the deaths.
Helman, who is said to have approved and defended the Phoenix facility's actions,
previously served as director of the Veterans Affairs facility in Spokane, Wash., where the VA's Office of Medical Investigations
found the number of veteran suicides were being miscounted.
