The controversial pamphlet was postedon the Department of Veteran's Affairs website |
DENVER, Colo.—
They risked their lives for us, and now, they are being asked if their life is worth living.A controversial pamphlet that was posted as a resource on the Department of Veteran's Affairs website is outraging some disabled veterans. It's called "Your life, your choices" and is a series of questions about life.
One section asks the respondent to check the answer that best described how you would feel about being in a coma for the rest of your life. The choices are: "life like this would be difficult, but acceptable; life like this would be worth living, but just barely; life like this would not be worth living."
FOX 31 took the manual to the annual convention of Disabled Veterans of America, which is meeting in Denver this week.
"It's irritating, because with the pamphlet they have out now and the questions they're asking, in my opinion, will make a veteran stop and think about their life and start thinking why should I stay alive, why don't I just kill myself and release the burdens," said Ernest Hume, who served for 12 years in the Navy and was injured while transporting prisoners.
Stan Gunno, who retired from the Air Force in 1996 said, "it always seems the us government is willing to send our young men and women away, however when they're injured and they return, we're falling a little short on helping our vets.. I think they are inappropriate. I think a person who may be leaning toward suicide or depression, it'll put them over the edge."
Some say they realize the government may be trying to identify people who may be suicidal, but they feel this is the wrong way to go about it. Stan Gunno said, "What I'd rather see is them interviewing people on a one on one basis counseling situation and try to help them along with their families."
Hume wants to encourage servicemen and women coming home from war to join groups like the Disabled Veterans of America.
"It helps because you can see what other veterans are doing and are doing and accomplishing and lets you know your life as a disabled veteran can go on and you can be a productive member of society," Hume said.
