Obama Wants Probe of VA Drug Tests

'Outrageous' that suicide-linked drugs were tested on vets
By Ambreen Ali,  Newser Staff
Posted Jun 18, 2008 12:23 PM CDT
Obama Wants Probe of VA Drug Tests
Barack Obama joined Republican Sen. John Cornyn yesterday in demanding an investigation into alleged government drug testing on veterans.   (AP Photo/Susan Walsh)

Barack Obama and Republican Sen. John Cornyn are seeking a probe into reports that veterans had been recruited for tests on drugs linked to suicide, ABC News reports. An ABC News/Washington Times story noted that vets were given the anti-smoking drug Chantix in government tests, but for more than three months, VA doctors did not tell patients about possible serious side effects.

"It is outrageous and unacceptable that our government would irresponsibly endanger veterans who have already sacrificed so much for our country," Obama said yesterday. The White House shot back, criticizing the news report, which focused on one veteran. It was irresponsible to take "the experience of this one veteran and trying to leave the impression that this was a situation for all veterans," a spokesman said. (More veterans stories.)

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