In the last five years my husband has been through the 'ringer' he has had two knee surgeries on the same knee (service related), he has spinal meningitis, back surgery (his L4 & L5 were operated on), appendectomy, and recently he has been suffering through his production of kidney stones. His last surgery was Wednesday, February 27 in Palo Alto. The surgery was to break apart a kidney stone in his left kidney. Upon or return to Reno he was having a hard time breathing due to the inflammation of his uvula, which he went to the VA ER on Saturday, March 1, and was treated for infection. On Monday, March 3, I drove my husband back to the VA ER because he was in agonizing pain, which he described as ice picks being jammed into his left kidney and groin.

He was admitted into the VA hospitals ICU on Monday, March 3 around ten o'clock. On Tuesday, March 4, more test were conducted on my husband, the last test being performed around 2:00-2:30, which was a contrast ct. We were told that we would be receiving the results of the ct on Wednesday, March 5. All of the staff encountered we professional and helpful EXCEPT for the nurse that came on at 12:00 am this morning. I had dozed off when she came storming in at 12:30 waking myself and my husband who just had fallen asleep stating that I was not allowed there and that I had to leave the premises because visiting hours were over. Apparently visiting hours were over at 8pm. I realize that visiting hours are established for a reason but I know that this was uncalled for. I have been by my husbands side throughout all of his ordeals.

NEVER before was I asked to leave. Never!! This rude and disregard for the Patients Bill of Rights is outrageous and totally absurd. I have read and re-read the facility hand book several times sense arriving home and can find nothing to validate this outrageous action. If the rules were to be implicated why then were they not adhered to when the visiting hours were over? And why is it that this is the FIRST time that I have been asked to leave. Please consider our situation. All we have is each other and I have been there like I should have been by his side and now because of this nurse I sit here alone praying for my husband. He has been through so much already, why this too? I hate to think of this nurse treating veterans in this manner.

I apologize if this is not the correct office to send my complaint and kindly ask that you forward it on to the person(s) who can help reprimand these outrageous actions. I believe this to be a valid complaint and seriously believe through the PSDA, Congress intended formally to codify into law the primary obligation of health care professionals to ‘pursue the good of the patient.’ The good of this patient is to have me by his side.

Apparently the VA has had issues with visitors (husband & wife) in the past, there are some very informative articles in the ACLU archives, that I will be showing the administration of the hospital.