natevazquez
Junior Member
I am a Marine Corps. infantry veteran that served my country faithfully in Operations Iraqi Freedom and Enduring Freedom. As a result of my service, I am service-connected and Social Security disabled for traumatic brain injury, tinnitus, spinal disc injury, and post traumatic stress disorder. As a result of the conditions that I now suffer from as a result of my faithful service, I experience severe headaches, dizziness, nausea, light sensitivity, seizures, ear pain, chronic ringing in the ears, night terrors, daymares, isolation, intrusion, severe irritability (non-violent), hypervigilance, among many other symptoms.
From Fall 2005 to Summer of 2008, I received treatment at the Cincinnati Veteran Medical Center in Cincinnati, Ohio. I participated in the PTSD program and attended group therapy twice a week. During this time, I also enrolled as a student at the University of Cincinnati. As a student, I served as the treasurer for my college's student tribunal, a senator for the University Undergraduate Senate, and treasurer for my fraternity. I also volunteered for the Cincinnati Veteran Medical Center, Cincinnati Youth Collaborative, among many other philanthropies. I also participated in the UC Honors program and earned a 3.9/4.0 GPA. I have no record or incidents at the Veteran Medical Center or anywhere else of being violent. To be sure, I am NOT a violent person!
After moving to Aliso Viejo, California with my wife, I began to seek treatment at the Veteran Medical Center. On Friday, 14 August 2009, I went to the Veteran Medical Center for regularly scheduled group therapy. After therapy, I went to the travel office to receive my travel pay as per 38 C.F.R. 70. However, I was informed by the travel personnel that the "systems were down". Because I had no money, and my gas tank was on empty, I went to the Patient's Advocate office to request assistance. After several hours, and speaking to several people, the Veteran Medical Center could not find it possible or reasonable to give me just $2.00 so that I may have enough gasoline to get home from treatment- treatment that I now have to receive as a result of my service to our country. So, I decided to try and make it home on the fuel I had. My motorcycle ran out of gas in the middle of the 73 toll road. I had to walk to a gas station and beg several people for assistance. In frustration, I called the Patient's Advocate Office and informed them, again, of their incompetence and I said that the "reason the suicide rate is so high among veterans is because of **** like this". I did NOT threaten my safety or anyone else's. However, when the Veteran Medical Center finally received this message on Monday, 17 August 2009, they sent the Sheriff's Department to my home again. Believing that my Fourth Amendment and Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act of 1996 rights were being blatantly and grossly violated, I refused to exit my home for several hours. However, after the SWAT team threatened to enter my home with assault weapons, under duress, I agreed to voluntarily admit myself into the L-1 Psychiatric Ward at the Veteran Medical Center. At NO time during this incident did I behave violently or threaten anyone's safety including my own. I also had to drop my college courses because of my stay at L-1.
When I arrived at L-1, I was informed by several of the staff that I had angered the administration of the VA for the bad publicity that I had given them. I was then given a pamphlet on seclusion and restraint regulations in the State of California. The pamphlet clearly indicated that seclusions and restraints would not be used as punishment or discipline and would only be used in case of danger to someone's safety. However, the nurses then informed me that if I didn't "comply", I would be "put down". I was then told that I must spend my first 24 hours in seclusion per standard policy. I was fully compliant. I started engaging in activities to stimulate my mind and stay the boredom and ensuing psychological tortures of being secluded as a TBI, tinnitus, and PTSD sufferer. I made my bed, did jumping-jacks, pushups and situps. Dr. came into my room and asked me to sit in another, smaller room. I did. I was told to sit in a chair at the back of the small room underneath the camera. Dr. entered the room with three (3) large, male nurses. He handed me a small cup with a pill. Dr.informed me that I had "caused the hospital a lot of trouble" and that my behavior was "agitated"; he said he wanted me to take Ativan. I told Dr. that I wasn't agitated, though certainly indignant, and that I was merely trying to pass the time. Dr. told me that he wished for me to take the Ativan regardless. I reluctantly took the pill. Then, Dr. gave me another small cup of pills which he also told me to take. I refused and asked its contents. He told me that it was Haldol, Benadryl, and Clonozepam. Now realizing that Dr. was intending to heavily medicate me without ethically addressing my medical and psychological issues and without informing me of all the possible side effects of these very dangerous drugs, I refused the medication. Dr. told me that if I refused he would call the VA police and they would "put [me] down". I again refused. Seven (7) VA police officer entered the room with batons and mace already drawn. The officers were shaking the mace and beating their hands with the batons in an aggressive riot-control manner. The doctor and the three (3) large male nurses were still in the small room. Dr. gave me "one last chance to take the medication before [I am] put down". I again refused. I was sprayed in the face by at least two (2) different officers. I was then brutally batonned by several others. I blacked out. When I came to, one of the police officers was stepping on my head. I was screaming frantically and begged Dr. to inform them of my TBI and the damage he was doing to it. Dr. corroborated my claim, but the officer continued to stomp on my injured head while the others brutally batonned me. I was then handcuffed to a bed with mace on my face. My wife and her father visited me and saw the bruises and bumps all over my body. The entire incident was also captured on video camera. At this time, I informed Dr. and case manager that I intend to pursue damages and prosecution for my injuries. Dr. told me that during the incident, I broke one police officer's jaw, and another's rib. I still do not know if this is true or not, but I informed Dr.that I was defending myself against unlawful assault and battery.
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From Fall 2005 to Summer of 2008, I received treatment at the Cincinnati Veteran Medical Center in Cincinnati, Ohio. I participated in the PTSD program and attended group therapy twice a week. During this time, I also enrolled as a student at the University of Cincinnati. As a student, I served as the treasurer for my college's student tribunal, a senator for the University Undergraduate Senate, and treasurer for my fraternity. I also volunteered for the Cincinnati Veteran Medical Center, Cincinnati Youth Collaborative, among many other philanthropies. I also participated in the UC Honors program and earned a 3.9/4.0 GPA. I have no record or incidents at the Veteran Medical Center or anywhere else of being violent. To be sure, I am NOT a violent person!
After moving to Aliso Viejo, California with my wife, I began to seek treatment at the Veteran Medical Center. On Friday, 14 August 2009, I went to the Veteran Medical Center for regularly scheduled group therapy. After therapy, I went to the travel office to receive my travel pay as per 38 C.F.R. 70. However, I was informed by the travel personnel that the "systems were down". Because I had no money, and my gas tank was on empty, I went to the Patient's Advocate office to request assistance. After several hours, and speaking to several people, the Veteran Medical Center could not find it possible or reasonable to give me just $2.00 so that I may have enough gasoline to get home from treatment- treatment that I now have to receive as a result of my service to our country. So, I decided to try and make it home on the fuel I had. My motorcycle ran out of gas in the middle of the 73 toll road. I had to walk to a gas station and beg several people for assistance. In frustration, I called the Patient's Advocate Office and informed them, again, of their incompetence and I said that the "reason the suicide rate is so high among veterans is because of **** like this". I did NOT threaten my safety or anyone else's. However, when the Veteran Medical Center finally received this message on Monday, 17 August 2009, they sent the Sheriff's Department to my home again. Believing that my Fourth Amendment and Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act of 1996 rights were being blatantly and grossly violated, I refused to exit my home for several hours. However, after the SWAT team threatened to enter my home with assault weapons, under duress, I agreed to voluntarily admit myself into the L-1 Psychiatric Ward at the Veteran Medical Center. At NO time during this incident did I behave violently or threaten anyone's safety including my own. I also had to drop my college courses because of my stay at L-1.
When I arrived at L-1, I was informed by several of the staff that I had angered the administration of the VA for the bad publicity that I had given them. I was then given a pamphlet on seclusion and restraint regulations in the State of California. The pamphlet clearly indicated that seclusions and restraints would not be used as punishment or discipline and would only be used in case of danger to someone's safety. However, the nurses then informed me that if I didn't "comply", I would be "put down". I was then told that I must spend my first 24 hours in seclusion per standard policy. I was fully compliant. I started engaging in activities to stimulate my mind and stay the boredom and ensuing psychological tortures of being secluded as a TBI, tinnitus, and PTSD sufferer. I made my bed, did jumping-jacks, pushups and situps. Dr. came into my room and asked me to sit in another, smaller room. I did. I was told to sit in a chair at the back of the small room underneath the camera. Dr. entered the room with three (3) large, male nurses. He handed me a small cup with a pill. Dr.informed me that I had "caused the hospital a lot of trouble" and that my behavior was "agitated"; he said he wanted me to take Ativan. I told Dr. that I wasn't agitated, though certainly indignant, and that I was merely trying to pass the time. Dr. told me that he wished for me to take the Ativan regardless. I reluctantly took the pill. Then, Dr. gave me another small cup of pills which he also told me to take. I refused and asked its contents. He told me that it was Haldol, Benadryl, and Clonozepam. Now realizing that Dr. was intending to heavily medicate me without ethically addressing my medical and psychological issues and without informing me of all the possible side effects of these very dangerous drugs, I refused the medication. Dr. told me that if I refused he would call the VA police and they would "put [me] down". I again refused. Seven (7) VA police officer entered the room with batons and mace already drawn. The officers were shaking the mace and beating their hands with the batons in an aggressive riot-control manner. The doctor and the three (3) large male nurses were still in the small room. Dr. gave me "one last chance to take the medication before [I am] put down". I again refused. I was sprayed in the face by at least two (2) different officers. I was then brutally batonned by several others. I blacked out. When I came to, one of the police officers was stepping on my head. I was screaming frantically and begged Dr. to inform them of my TBI and the damage he was doing to it. Dr. corroborated my claim, but the officer continued to stomp on my injured head while the others brutally batonned me. I was then handcuffed to a bed with mace on my face. My wife and her father visited me and saw the bruises and bumps all over my body. The entire incident was also captured on video camera. At this time, I informed Dr. and case manager that I intend to pursue damages and prosecution for my injuries. Dr. told me that during the incident, I broke one police officer's jaw, and another's rib. I still do not know if this is true or not, but I informed Dr.that I was defending myself against unlawful assault and battery.
continued below. . .
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