Florida Veteran fired after being prescribed medical marijuana for post-traumatic stress disorder?

UPDATE School Board to pay suspended combat veteran

The School Board on Tuesday conducted a financial rescue mission of Mike Hickman, a Belleview High School dean and combat veteran who was suspended without pay two weeks ago after testing positive for medically prescribed marijuana.
Most board members said during Tuesday’s meeting that they made a mistake when suspending Hickman without pay. They thought he would be suspended with pay, pending a hearing before an administrative law judge.

Thanks to Tuesday’s decision, Hickman now is on paid leave status while the administrative law process plays out. He will be paid retroactively to Jan. 14

Superintendent Heidi Maier has recommended that Hickman be fired for violating School Board policy. Hickman hurt his shoulder while breaking up a fight at Belleview High. He went to the district’s worker compensation doctor, who reported to the district that he tested positive for cannabinoids. That is considered a violation of the school system’s zero tolerance alcohol and drug-free workplace policy, which was established by the board.
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Military veteran fired from school for medical marijuana use

Ocala.com
By Joe Callahan
January 15, 2020

Mike Hickman, a former Belleview High School dean who served in the U.S. Marine Corps in the early 1990s, was prescribed medical marijuana for post-traumatic stress disorder.

Before Mike Hickman was named Belleview High School’s student services manager, he served in the U.S. Marine Corps during Operations Desert Shield and Desert Storm in the early 1990s.

Little did the aspiring assistant principal know that he would have to wage another battle, nearly 30 years later, to protect his name and livelihood.

On Tuesday, the School Board upheld the firing of Hickman, 50, after he tested positive for marijuana that he was legally prescribed to help with post-traumatic stress disorder.

The story began on Nov. 5, when Hickman injured his shoulder at Belleview High while breaking up a student fight. He went to the district’s worker compensation doctor, who is required to administer a urinalysis as part of the treatment.

The doctor reported to the School District that Hickman tested positive for cannabinoids, which is a violation of the school system’s zero tolerance alcohol and drug-free workplace policy, as established by the School Board.

Hickman was devastated when he learned Superintendent of Schools Heidi Maier recommended his firing, he said Wednesday morning. After all, he just spent $10,000 to obtain a master’s degree to enter the assistant principal’s hiring pool with aspirations of one day becoming a principal.
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Woman accused of stealing from Harley Davidson suspended from veteran's charity board?

Woman accused of stealing from local business suspended from veterans organization board

WPSD 6 News
Krystle Callais
Jan 14, 2020

MCCRACKEN COUNTY, KY -- A woman charged with stealing from a McCracken County business, has been suspended from her position on an veterans organization's board.

Marie McGruder McCracken County Sheriff's Department

Marie McGruder was arrested Monday on theft charges.

She was accused of using a company credit card while an employee at Four Rivers Harley Davidson to buy things for herself.

She allegedly spent about $40,000 on things such as vacations, groceries, pet supplies, and electronics.

On Tuesday, ProjectDieHard in Paducah said they were suspended McGruder from their board.
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Lawsuit filed against the VA after female West Point Cadet committed suicide

Family of former West Point cadet who died by suicide alleges death resulted from Portland VA Medical Center’s negligent health care

The Oregonian
By Maxine Bernstein
Jan 14, 2020

Before she got the medication from the VA hospital, Darneille never expressed thoughts of self-harm, according to the suit. She remained positive and had plans to become a pilot, her family said.

Emylee Therese Darneille, a 24-year-old Lewis and Clark College graduate, died by suicide on July 5, 2015, in Seville, Spain. Her mother has filed a federal wrongful death lawsuit against the Portland Veterans Affairs Medical Center, alleging "medical negligence'' contributed to Darneille's death.

A 24-year-old woman who injured her ankle as a West Point Military Academy cadet ended her life due to medical negligence after she was treated at Portland’s Veterans Affairs Medical Center for chronic pain and associated anxiety, her family alleges in a federal lawsuit.

Emylee Darneille was discovered dead in Spain on July 5, 2015, two months after she was prescribed an anti-depressant called fluoxetine, a generic form of Prozac, at the medical center. She had seriously injured her ankle as a cadet in 2008 and over the next seven years developed a complex regional pain syndrome marked by prolonged severe pain. She underwent numerous surgeries and physical therapies.

Darneille quickly began experiencing suicidal symptoms and reported them to her doctors repeatedly, the suit alleges.

Darneille’s mother, Cherylee Bridges, contends that her daughter’s suffering and death resulted from “negligent health care” provided at the VA hospital. She’s seeking $5 million in compensation for the family’s grief, anguish and loss in a wrongful death suit filed against the U.S. government.

The suit alleges the medical center failed to manage Darneille’s medication, investigate the cause of her increased suicidal thoughts or give her appropriate care.
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Veterans can video chat with VA doctors from anywhere

Telehealth system cuts down on wait time for veterans to see VA doctors

KATV News
by Kaila Lafferty
January 15th 2020

One of the key benefits of these systems is providing care to patients who live far away from a VA medical center. "We're changing the way that we address our patients." RN Clinical Manager, Teresa West

LITTLE ROCK, Ark. (KATV) — A new telehealth system is helping patients at the VA receive treatment for everything from refills on prescriptions, to check-ups and even care for PTSD.

As part of the system, veterans can video chat with doctors from anywhere.

Iraq war veteran Chris Durney met with his doctor through the system called, VA Video Connect.

"I can use this and set up an appointment, talk with my own doctor, my own provider and get those things done," said Durney.

RN Clinical Manager, Teresa West, had a patient experiencing symptoms of PTSD. He used VA Video Connect to see West face-to-face.

She talked him through his breathing, and immediately saw results. "His blood pressure came down, and he was amazed, it was 130/80. And he said, 'Oh this is incredible, I can't believe this,’" West explained.

Durney also saw the benefits of the system while dealing with his own PTSD, "Loud noises do make me cower a little bit, they affect me," he said.

He can make an appointment and speak with a specialist whenever and wherever he needs. "It's really great to be able to see a mental health professional almost at any time," he said.

Doctors with the VA are seeing the benefits as well. "I think the concept is wonderful, I think it works great. It's really easy to get into and I think it's an asset that we have as physicians to continue the care that we want to provide to our patients," said Dr. Jacqueline O’Donald.
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Stolen Valor: Gregg Ramsdell, 61, of Columbus, Ga faked PTSD for benefits...and job

Army veteran faces federal prison time, fines for Stolen Valor and lying about PTSD

Army Times
Todd South
January 14, 2020

Ramsdell later admitted to FBI investigators that he lied about having PTSD at all.

The Stolen Valor Act of 2013 makes it a criminal offense for individuals to falsely claim military status and awards to claim service-connected benefits. (Arsenis Spyros)

An Army veteran faces up to five years in prison and a $250,000 fine in a March sentencing hearing after pleading guilty to lying about a fake tour in Afghanistan and Purple Heart and Silver Star Medals he didn’t earn.

Gregg Ramsdell, 61, of Columbus, Ga. pleaded guilty in early December to one count of false statements and one count of violation of the Stolen Valor Act. He’s scheduled for sentencing on March 23.

In 2014, Ramsdell claimed to officials with the Department of Veterans Affairs that he “witnessed horrible atrocities” while deployed to Afghanistan from October 2008 to March 2009, according to court records.

The investigation also found that Ramsdell had listed both the Purple Heart with Cluster and the Silver Star Medal on his application for a civilian job at Fort Benning, Georgia in 2017.

He got the job of logistics management specialist with a base salary of $53,137.
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