A recent executive order by Donald Trump has led to new guidelines at Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) hospitals, allowing medical staff to refuse treatment to unmarried veterans and Democrats. These guidelines, now in effect at some VA medical centers, permit healthcare professionals to decline care based on personal characteristics not explicitly protected by federal law. The changes also extend to psychologists, dentists, and various other occupations within the VA system.

Under these new rules, doctors and other staff can be prohibited from working at VA hospitals based on their marital status, political affiliation, or union activity. The alterations are in response to Trump’s executive order, which aimed to strip protections from transgender individuals, resulting in the VA ceasing most gender-affirming care and banning certain terminology from clinical settings.

Critics, including medical experts, have raised concerns about potential discrimination and ethical implications of these rule changes. Dr. Kenneth Kizer, a former VA healthcare official, highlighted the risk of doctors refusing care based on patients’ reasons for seeking treatment or personal behaviors. Furthermore, the alterations to VA bylaws now allow for discrimination based on factors like politics and marital status, a shift that has drawn criticism from ethics experts like Dr. Arthur Caplan.

The controversial nature of these changes, imposed without consulting VA doctors, has sparked backlash from healthcare professionals and organizations like the American Medical Association. Critics view the alterations as part of a broader trend of political influence over medical practices, exemplified by recent actions within government health agencies. The impact of these changes on patient care, particularly for vulnerable groups like female and LGBTQ+ veterans, remains a significant concern among healthcare advocates and veterans alike.