dr. nee: i would then want to know if you're anonymity is disclosed, what type of repercussions is that supervisor going to have to you with a cousin that which should be written in the policy. ask very -- >> very important question. did either of you go to the office of special counsel for assistance? dr. mitchell: i filed a complaint to the office of special counsel. dr. nee: i also did and i am still working with them. i truly believe that office works as hard as it can. that is not the office for patient care. so they get mired and drag down into that and then somehow, this unfair responsibility gets placed on them. that is not their responsibility. >> let me go to the issue of patient care. i find it astonishing, dr. mitchell, that after you brought forth this information that you were not even interviewed. i also find it incredible that a facility would be asked to essentially investigate itself when there are physicians or other medical personnel there who are the subject of the concer

my name is dr. nee, i'm a neurologist and i'm here to examine your husband."o and behold that robot turned around, went around the bed to the other side and started examining tom. it was remarkable. >> sreenivasan: dr. nee was also able to remotely access c.t. scans and other vital data needed to quickly determine tom's surgical needs. mercy is one of 43 dignity health hospitals in the west using the "telestroke" robot, and there are others in use all over the u.s. we got a demonstration from dr. asad chaudhary-- he's the one on the screen-- and nurse eleanor vigilante. >> it's faster for us to always use tele-neurology because our physicians are not 24 hours a day in the building. we can actually get a physician to the bedside of a patient within three to six minutes. >> sreenivasan: three to six minutes is the difference between what? >> every minute that we waste is potentially more brain function that's lost. >> sreenivasan: stroke is the leading cause of serious, long- term disability in the united states. but widespread use of telemedicine for stroke car

and in other ways they try today -- tried to make it up to me. >> dr. nee in written testimony -- >> absolutely. how did they disparage your repuation? >> i have not presented any evidence to them on multiple occasions which was false. they had evidence, the first time they had evidence and the second time there were two hours of testimony they refused. if i am truly lying put forth the testimony and that's not forthcoming. so i mean, you have to think about that. someone is putting in a letter to a senator of the united states and it goes out that you are a liar. >> very good. thank you all very much. >> thank you, i want to thank both of you. just a quick question. we read consistently about the lack of young professionals going to the va, nurses, doctors, shortages. in light of what we heard today i think it would be more discouraging for a young physician to want to be a part of a health system that is a dysfunctional as you've described. if we could maybe sort of fast-forward here, what can you tell the next generation of health professional why they w

dr. nee, why the boxes? why -- how do you get in a situation where you inherit this type of situation? you have got people, you know who are trying their -- how do you get in a situation where somebody is doing a bunch of tests and nobody is even taking the trouble to read those? is that not having enough staff? in incompetentance incompetentance? >> i was only one person when i arrived and my ethic was inpatient ultrasounds were read that day, and other patients 24 to 48 hours and not 12 months. this is people that did not want to work. >> laziness and the fact that there was just very little care for the individuals involved. >> i would have to say -- i could never imagine looking at those boxes and being okay with that. i still to this day don't know where they were at but many people knew they existed. >> very good. tell me about the culture of the whole thing, though. you know we have a situation where we have got people that are practicing, and you know, you are bringing forward facts where the practic

mitchell and dr. nee have shed light on issues that directly affect the health and well being of our nation's veterans. their disclosures have saved taxpayer dollars and more important, human lives and they deserve our utmost respect and gratitude for coming forward. i know it isn't easy. the department of veteran affairs faces many challenges that demand our attention, including barriers to access to care and a backlog in disability claims. another pressing challenge however, is restoring the trust and confidence that has been impaired as a direct result of abusive and retaliatory practices, which came to light after the phoenix scandal. we must ensure that va employees who speak out will be protected. this is not only the law, but also our moral obligation. again, mr. chairman thank you so much for holding this important hearing and for your leadership as a veteran yourself. thank you. >> mr. chairman, could i do a short opening, please? >> go ahead. >> yeah. thank you, mr. chairman. very appropriate fo

andellns seices and peonalare rvic thugh stomare ans thatan cnge nee chae, soour ing ved es c st hap andealt in eirown me. ♪♪ >> announcer: today on drs? >> we caught her crushing pills. >> with his daughter in the house. >> my daughter crushed the candy >> >> who showed you how to do that? >> i would never teach that to a child. >> it's a bitter battle for custody. >> dr. phil: were you locked in the bathroom, drunk and threatening suicide? >> no. >> it either happened or it didn't. >> announcer: this whole family -- >> i feel like todd's a great father. >> dr. phil: you are very defensive, you are self-rightious, and you are apparently a delusional mother! [ applause ] >> dr. phil: let's do it >> have a good show, everybody. here we go. >> dr. phil: this is a safe place to talk about hard things. >> standby, we will count you