The report done by the acting Veterans Affairs Inspector General smacks of political weaseling. Sure, the report, created by IG Richard Griffin, found abuse of power and fraud in the bureaucratic health care system, but it never blamed the VA for any of the waiting list deaths. It might have something to do with how Griffin measured the problem. As Arizona Central points out, “[H]ealth-care experts say Griffin’s report used a measure that is not consistent with pathology practices because no matter how long a patient waits for care, the underlying ‘cause’ of death will be a medical condition, rather than the delay. Put simply, people die of pneumonia, heart conditions and bullet wounds – not waiting to see the doctor.” One tweak of the methodology, and the eel of a system slips off the hook. More…