Des Moines, IA – Clergy at VA Hospital Pressured an Orthodox Jewish Veteran to Convert to Christianity

Des Moines, IO – A local veteran is alleging that his civil rights repeatedly were violated when he sought care at the VA Iowa City Health Care System, and he plans to sue the hospital.

David Miller, 46, of Iowa City, served in the U.S. Navy and currently is on full disability. He is an Orthodox Jew and claims that for two years, he repeatedly has been pressured by Protestant clergy at the hospital to convert to Christianity while admitted as a patient and during out-patient visits. Not only that, Miller said that recently he was denied pain medication for kidney stones, claiming his doctor told him that because he was a religious Jew, he should just try prayer and meditation to relieve the pain.

After speaking with hospital administration and writing a letter to Sen. Tom Harkin, D-Iowa, Miller said he will sue. “I think this is pretty offensive,” he said. “This is the only access to health care that I have as a disabled veteran. They tried to convert me when I was hooked up to a heart monitor, twice. It has made me hesitant to go to the VA for care.”

Kirt Sickels, spokesman for the VA Iowa City Health Care Center, said a response to Miller was sent this week from hospital director Barry Sharp, who also sent a response to Sen. Harkin last month. “The VA basically respects and recognizes all religious preferences and does what it can to accommodate those preferences,” he said. [Hawk Central]