Big Brother or good security at VA?

Is this Big Brother run wild or just good security?

The Department of Veterans Affairs is paying $100,000 to a company for Defense ID, which allows guards to use a hand-held device to scan a range of IDs, including driver's licenses. Then names are processed through enormous databases with listings of people who are wanted or who might be unstable. The plan is being tested at a VA hospital in Philadelphia.

The company, Intelli-Check-Mobilisa Inc., said it has interest from other VA facilities and has high hopes of greatly expanding the program within the agency.

But might some veterans who deserve treatment be scared away if they've had even a relatively minor brush with the law?

"A veteran just back from Iraq and Afghanistan with a DUI should be encouraged to get mental health counseling and substance abuse treatment," said Paul Sullivan, executive director of Veterans for Common Sense. "Is the VA going to hire more doctors? Or are they going to be playing Big Brother?"

Amy Hager, a spokeswoman for the company, downplayed "Big Brother" concerns, saying, "You don't want rapists and murderers in the hospital anyway."

Check in next week for more on this issue. We've asked the VA for details on the security plan and whether it might be expanded around the country. So far, we haven't heard back. But we'll update this story as more information becomes available.

-- William R. Levesque, Times staff writer