Gulf War Syndrome

[AGENTLE@aol.com]

  Med-privacy:
  
  I am wondering if any of you caught the National Public Radio spot last
  friday morning, where a gulf war vet was interviewed. His name was Barry
  Kapplan. 
  
  He has five or so simulataneous disabilities going on, most of them
  apparently related to exposure to burning petroleum products, possible
  exposure to biological weapons of Saddam, etc.
  
  The US Army fought his medical claims by hiring a Psychiatrist to evaluate
  him, and after writing a long treatise, concluded that the young soldier's
  problems were 'somataform' disorder (psychosomatic or in the vernacular, all
  'in his head'. Despite the fact that he had a doctor who had proven all 5
  diseases in lab results. 
  
  As I have gone on to document, this is the standard dodge in this country,
  for medical problems. Whether from disease, auto accident, mugging, workplace
  accident or whatever, apparently this nations excuse for deflecting
  responsibility is to hire a 'hired gun' psychiatrist, to write a scathing
  report on the victim, and blame everything on psychosomatic disorder. 
  
  Any comments, or observations?
  
  Alex