'All they wanted to do was to push morphine, codeine'; Vets vent at town hall

Citizens gathered at the Uptown Theater in Kansas City, Mo., Monday to address the Veterans Affairs crisis, and they had plenty to say.

Dozens of veterans and their families gathered at Uptown Theater to talk about problems at the VA pic.twitter.com/tklOgWW61u

— Garrett Haake (@GarrettHaake) June 9, 2014

Sad stories from tough people at town hall on VA care. "All they wanted to do was push morphine, codeine, morphine.." pic.twitter.com/U2uABjbFxh

— Garrett Haake (@GarrettHaake) June 9, 2014

"The only thing you're waiting for at the VA is a funeral," one man says at this veterans town hall. Brutal stuff #VFW #VA

— Garrett Haake (@GarrettHaake) June 10, 2014

Blogger Duane Lester live-blogged the meeting.

Mother of service member who committed suicide is testifying on the lack of mental health treatment her son received. http://t.co/xs4bZsZpsS

— Duane Lester (@ThatDuaneLester) June 9, 2014

Service member just said the #VA told her to get a job if she wanted better health care.

— Duane Lester (@ThatDuaneLester) June 9, 2014

A veteran just said the #VA diagnosed him as a crack addict and he's never done cocaine in any form. http://t.co/PMmV5YJPdR

— Duane Lester (@ThatDuaneLester) June 9, 2014

The stories these vets in KC are telling about the #VA are stunning: http://t.co/PMmV5YJPdR

— Duane Lester (@ThatDuaneLester) June 9, 2014

A vet just said his doctor didn't tell him about polyps in his colon b/c she didn't think it was important. #VA

— Duane Lester (@ThatDuaneLester) June 9, 2014

A vet just said "The #VA doesn't need more doctors. They need the doctors that are there to do their jobs." #ApplauseLine

— Duane Lester (@ThatDuaneLester) June 9, 2014

Whoa. A vet just said a patient was found with maggots in his nose while the director was getting a bonus for coming in under budget. #VA

— Duane Lester (@ThatDuaneLester) June 9, 2014

Two positive #VA hospital stories in a row from vets in KC.

— Duane Lester (@ThatDuaneLester) June 10, 2014

"I'm alive today because I didn't do what the #VA told me to do. I would have bled out if I had." – a vet in KC: http://t.co/PMmV5YJPdR

— Duane Lester (@ThatDuaneLester) June 10, 2014

A lot of these stories about the #VA start with a doctor throwing heavy pain meds like morphine or Vicodin at the symptoms. A lot.

— Duane Lester (@ThatDuaneLester) June 10, 2014

"I've got a rash I've had for 8 months. No diagnosis." A vet in KC: http://t.co/xs4bZsZpsS #VA

— Duane Lester (@ThatDuaneLester) June 10, 2014

Vet said he went to the #VA with his bicep separated from his bone. They gave him a sling and said come back in 6 weeks.

— Duane Lester (@ThatDuaneLester) June 10, 2014