The Office of Inspector General at the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs released the results of its review of the circumstances of veteran Brandon Ketchum’s suicide and whether Ketchum received adequate mental health treatment at the Iowa City VA Health Care System.
Senators Chuck Grassley and Joni Ernst, along with State Senator Ron Johnson, and Representative Dave Loebsack sought the review.
The 33-year-old Davenport veteran, diagnosed with PTSD, said he asked to be admitted to the psych unit at the VA in Iowa City and was turned away. He killed himself hours later.
The inspector general's report made four recommendations to improve mental health treatment for veterans going forward, but could not determine if these shortcomings impacted Brandon’s care.
You can read the full report here.