(Image Source: Passaic County One Stop Career Center Veterans Services/U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs)

BY TRACY PFEIFFER

ANCHOR JIM FLINK
 

You're watching multisource US video news analysis from Newsy.

A report from the Government Accountability Office says U.S. Veterans Affairs hospitals have failed to follow regulations concerning sexual assault and rape cases.

“GAO found that many of the nearly 300 sexual assault incidents reported to the VA police were not reported to VA leadership officials and the VA OIG [Office of the Inspector General]. ...nearly two-thirds of sexual assault incidents involving rape allegations originating in VA facilities were not reported ... as required by VA regulation.” (GAO)

CNN breaks down more details about the cases.

ANCHOR, CNN: “Two hundred and eighty-four reported from January 2007 to July 2010. Many, not reported to the VA leaders also, who needed to know and could have done something about it. The cases include rape, inappropriate touching, and forceful medical exams. VA patients and employees were among the victims as well as the attackers. Both men and women were attacked.”

A writer for the Air Force Times explains -- it isn’t that VA hospitals don’t have tools to prevent rape and sexual assault -- it’s that there were major problems within the established systems.

“Screening isn’t always done, surveillance systems are not always monitored and panic alarms may fail, the report says. Investigators found that malfunctioning alarms in five different mental health wards failed to alert police and hospital surveillance systems at five medical centers were not being constantly monitored.”

Florida Republican Jeff Miller -- who chairs the House Committee on Veteran Affairs -- released an outraged statement after the report’s release, saying...

“When I first read this report, I was aghast... It reminded me of a 1950s prison system - lawlessness, lack of security and reporting, and outright disregard for human dignity.” (The Washington Post)

And in response to the audit, the VA released a statement vowing improvement.

“We are taking steps to expand and improve our reporting of allegations and to provide more secure facilities for our patients... The bottom line is that we have a responsibility to protect those veterans in our care, as they have protected our nation, and we will continue to strengthen our facilities...” (Marine Corps Times)

According to USA Today, the VA treats around 6 million veterans in 152 health centers across the country. The House Veterans’ Affairs committee is set to hold a hearing on the issue Monday. 

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Transcript by Newsy.