His status as a registered sex offender precludes him from entering the Navy base where the local VA clinic is located.
David Smith, a 77-year-old homeless veteran, told The News Herald and several other media outlets the Veterans Administration Clinic had dodged his requests for appointments to treat his prostate cancer despite his rapidly degenerating health status. Smith produced a letter from March that said he would have an initial appointment in two weeks. He claimed he never heard back from them afterward and blasted the VA for incompetence.
The VA, under HIPPA privacy laws, cannot discuss a patient’s medical records and declined to comment on Smith’s case other than saying he had been scheduled for an appointment in July, although it is unknown at which VA facility.
However, some details of Smith’s case, which he did not previously disclose, could have affected his ability to receive VA treatment in
According to the Florida Department of Corrections, Smith served eight years in prison for three counts of lewd and lascivious molestation on minors stemming from the late 1980s and early ’90s. He was in prison from 1993 to 2001.
The VA Primary Care Clinic is on the Naval Support Activity Panama City base. NSAPC policy prohibits access to registered sex offenders on its installations.
Smith has denied committing the crimes but remains a sex offender for the conviction. Smith also has admitted to having mental health issues in the past. Whether he was refused treatment by the VA, or rejected it himself, was unclear Friday. Smith has not responded to requests that he sign a waiver allowing the VA to discuss his records.
The Panama City Rescue Mission, where Smith works and resides, defended him in a public statement released Friday.
“We would like to say regardless of the latest developments in this story, veteran David Smith served his country with dignity,” mission officials stated. “Whether or not he committed the crimes he was accused of, he served his time in prison for it. … He is still a human being who deserves prompt health care for the deadly cancer he has.”
The Rescue Mission initially sent out the plea for Smith’s story to be published. The statement, sent out Monday, said mission officials were “appalled” at the VA’s treatment of Smith. On Friday they announced the mission will be adopting a policy of checking each overnight client against the national sex offender database.
“This is our commitment to be more aware of the issues our clients face, as well as keep our facilities safe for everyone,” mission officials wrote.
Despite the murkiness by which it came about, Smith received promising news of treatment for his cancer. A local oncologist Thursday informed him he would take care of his first appointment and any subsequent ones.