VA Nurse Accused of Harassing Lesbian Patient Removed

[William769]

A nurse at the Dallas Veterans Affairs Medical Center who was accused of spouting off antigay comments to a lesbian patient in November has been fired.

Retired Marine lance corporal Esther Garatie (pictured) had sought help at the VA for severe depression and post-traumatic stress disorder. Nurse practitioner Lincy Pandithurai reportedly told Garatie that her emotional problems stemmed from her sexual orientation.

“She sat down and looked at me, and her first question was, ‘Are you a lesbian?’” Garatie said in a statement published by the Dallas Voice. “Her second question to me was, ‘Have you asked God into your heart? Have you been saved by Jesus Christ?’”

Garatie and a friend started a petition on Change.org to have the nurse removed from her position, and after two months and over 19,000 signatures of support, they have gotten their wish.

http://www.advocate.com/News/Daily_News/2012/01/20/VA_Nurse_Accused_of_Harassing_Lesbian_Patient_Removed/

[Wait Wut]

1. "Garatie and a friend started a petition..."

A petition was necessary and it still took 2 months. She should have her license revoked. It should have been done immediately, without a petition, without question.

[joeybee12]

2. True...but a lot of this just may be buearacratic mess

that has to be gone through.

[Wait Wut]

3. You killed my angry.

You're probably right. It was the VA. Not bucking the VA, they work hard and most of them truly love what they do, but the red tape is mountainous.

[joeybee12]

4. The red tape is horrendous in any big company...

When you think about it, only two months is like the speed of light for the VA!!!

[yardwork]

5. If DADT had not been repealed, I doubt that we would have this outcome.

[w8liftinglady]

6. Just down the street from the Cotton bowl- where Westboro was.

No big secret- gay and military in Texas has a poor outcome (Unless you are in intelligence,according to my dad)....basically,anything that doesn't fit a 1950's comedy show.......sigh